Palestinians will defy America to seek UN recognition in New York

THe United Nations will consider a plea next week from the Palestinian Authority for full membership, in defiance of America’s threat to veto the bid for state recognition.

Palestinian foreign minister Riad Malki announced the move just ahead of the arrival in the West Bank of a senior US diplomatic team sent to persuade them to drop the UN initiative.

Although Mr Malki did not reject the possibility of a compromise, he signalled that the chances of this were slim.

With a diplomatic showdown looming, Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu announced yesterday that he would travel to the UN meeting in New York next week to lead the opposition to the Palestinian move.

The emerging scenario would constitute a blow to US diplomacy by forcing Washington to veto a proposal whose outcome – a Palestinian state – in principle is supported by most of the world, including the White House and many in Israel too.

However, both the US and Israel insist a Palestinian state can be established only through negotiations. The process would have to play out in the Security Council before the Palestinians turn to the General Assembly, where they are likely to find the needed majority for a lesser form of recognition as a “non-member observer state”.

Mr Malki said the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, will personally submit the request for membership to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon after addressing the General Assembly on the afternoon of 23 September. In the meantime, he said the Palestinians would listen to suggested alternatives.

“We will see if anyone carries with him or her any credible offer that will allow us to look into it seriously and to be discussed in the Palestinian leadership. Otherwise, on the 23rd at 12:30, the president will submit the application,” Mr Malki said in Ramallah.

The Palestinians claim they are turning to the UN in frustration after years of failed peace talks. While a UN vote will not change the situation on the ground, the Palestinians believe it will improve their position if peace talks resume.

“We are going to the United Nations because we want really to strengthen the chances for the resumption of negotiations,” Mr Malki said. Mr Netanyahu, meanwhile, announced he would lead his government’s delegation to the annual gathering in New York.

Acknowledging the General Assembly is not “particularly sympathetic to Israel,” Mr Netanyahy said it was important to go and “lay things out the way they are.”

He said he would stress Israel’s security needs, particularly in light of the dramatic changes sweeping the Arab world.

“I will tell the truth, the simple truth, and the truth is Israel wants peace,” Mr Netanyahu said. “We know that this peace is conditioned on recognition and security, and I think these needs are only sharpened against the background of the events we see around us.”