Where the US stands on Palestinian statehood bid
Palestine goes to United Nations in September to seek recognition as a state, but US may veto any resolution on Palestinian statehood.
Story from PRI's The World. Listen to audio above for full report.
Palestine is gearing up for their plan to go to the United Nations in September to seek recognition as a state.
No one doubts the Palestinians could win broad support at the UN in a vote to recognize the state of Palestine. In fact, they already have.
Back in 1988, the Palestinian Liberation Organization’s chairman, Yasir Arafat proclaimed a Palestinian state. A UN resolution to recognize the move got 104 yes votes. Two countries voted no: Israel and the United States.
But when the Palestinians go to New York in September, they'll be asking for something different, according to veteran politician Hanan Ashrawi, who spoke to reporters in Ramallah on Sunday. What the Palestinian leadership wants in 2011, she said, is recognition as a state with defined borders. The borders the Palestinians have in mind are the pre-1967 lines that divided Israel from the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and Arab East Jerusalem.
"We are going to the UN with all options open and we reserve our right to use any means -- peaceful and legal and moral and human and responsible -- that will guarantee our rights and save them from Israeli unilateralism and illegal measures," Ashrawi said.
Ashrawi said Palestinian officials are hoping to line up more than 130 votes this time around.
The US has said it would veto any resolution on Palestinian statehood. But the prospect of voting against Palestinian self-determination as a wave of uprisings sweep through the Arab world is likely something the Obama administration would prefer to avoid.
Read the rest of this story on The World website.
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