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Jerusalem Peace & Security Forum
Forum Considers Recognition of Palestinian State
Written by Dr. Nurit Hirschfeld, Secretary General, UPF-Israel
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Modi'in, Israel - “Security Council Recognition of a Palestinian State: Implications for the State of Israel” was the topic of the Jerusalem Peace and Security Forum.
At the forum, which took place at the Multi-Cultural Center in Modi'in on Dec. 10, 2014, Professor Eliezer Glaubach, president of the Jerusalem Peace and Security Forum and an Ambassador for Peace, briefly explained the “Palestinian World Campaign,” which has been promoting international recognition of a Palestinian state. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has used this vehicle to request the United Nations Security Council to back a Palestinian state. Such support would take the form of a recommendation to the UN General Assembly for recognition. So far about 130 member states have pledged support for the move, so if the Security Council made such a recommendation, there is a likelihood that this would result in the recognition of a Palestinian state. However, Professor Glaubach and the other forum participants assumed that the United States, a permanent Security Council member and ally of Israel, would veto such a recognition.
Mr. Pinhas Inbari, a veteran Arab affairs correspondent and an analyst for the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, was the primary speaker of the forum.
Mr. Inbari said he believes that Palestinian efforts to apply to the Security Council—as well as accusing Israel before the International Criminal Court—will cause multiple problems for the Palestinian Authority. Not only will it trigger a showdown with Israel and a clash with the United States but also it will create problems even with the much more pro-Palestinian Europe and the Arab League.
With regards to the United States, Congress likely will vote to curtail all current aid to the Palestinian Authority. The Obama administration wants to avoid any situation that would require its veto and will act unfavorably if it is compelled to use it. Europeans, who mostly support a Palestinian state, link recognition with resuming Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations; France is preparing to submit a resolution to the Security Council that will compete with the Palestinian one by recognizing the Jewish state.
Mr. Inbari also believes that a careful reading of the Arab League resolution suggests that Arabs are unhappy with the Palestinian plan. They had intended to establish a team comprising Arab League member nations to devise a resolution that would be more acceptable to the Security Council. If Palestinians were to ignore this team—yet to convene—the Arabs would discontinue even their limited financial aid to the Palestinian Authority.
Mr. Daniel Sherman, a lecturer on Middle East and political affairs, showed concern for the Palestinian society. In the heat of the conflict some Palestinian leaders are willing to take risky steps that may result in their own pain and destruction, as long as they believe that Israel may suffer from it.
Participants:
Professor Eliezer Glaubach, president of the Jerusalem Peace and Security Forum
Mr. Pinhas Inbari, a veteran Arab affairs correspondent and an analyst for the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs
Mr. Daniel Sherman, a lecturer on Middle East and political affairs
Mr. Ran Segev, Ministry of Strategic Affairs
Dr. Nurit Hirschfeld, secretary general, UPF-Israel
Mrs. Adi Sasaki, director of the Jerusalem Peace and Security Forum
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