Palestinian statehood, Israeli resistance and US reaction
Palestine seeks recognition as an independent state, as the Israel government rallies for global opposition.
Story from PRI's The World. Use audio player above to listen to full report.
In September Palestinian leaders will ask the United Nations to recognize an independent state of Palestine along the borders that existed with Israel before 1967. The Obama administration opposes the move, but Israel isn't taking any chances.
The Israeli government is rallying supporters around the globe to oppose Palestinian efforts at the UN. Jewish legislators from around the world are part of the effort. They are visiting Israel this week for a conference on how they can support the Jewish State back home.
On Tuesday morning, about two dozen international lawmakers went to the Knesset building to hear from Israeli officials, including Moshe Ya’alon. Ya’alon is vice prime minister and a former chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces. He blasted Palestinian maneuvering for a unilateral declaration by "...bringing the Palestinian issue to the United Nations."
"Actually," he says, "it’s not going to bring about any incentive to the Palestinian leadership to come to the table. We will witness for sure in the West Bank a failed and hostile entity. It might be in the end, a second 'Hamastan'."
Ya'alon was making a reference to the Gaza Strip, which has been controlled by the Islamist militant group Hamas since 2007.
One of the American congress members on hand Tuesday was Henry Waxman, a Democrat from California. Waxman says he fully supports the creation of an independent state but he sees the UN drive for Palestinian statehood as an about-face.
"It's turning its back on a peace process that we would hope would be continued and that could result in a two-state solution," Waxman said.
"It's a serious mistake and I hope the UN would reject it," he added. "More important than that, I would hope that the Palestinian Authority would not go forward."
Read full story on TheWorld.org.
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