UN Palestinian statehood vote a personal, political victory for Abbas

[Jacpher]

With the U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly approving a resolution Thursday to implicitly recognize a Palestinian state, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas can chalk up the vote as a personal triumph on two levels.

 

From his headquarters in Ramallah on the West Bank Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, has endured top Arab leaders beating a path to his rival in Gaza, Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas. Hamas may not have won militarily in this month's mini-war with Israel but it paid off big-time, politically and diplomatically. From pariah status, Hamas emerged as the power-player in Palestinian politics with a clear message: violence pays.

 

Abbas, who all his political life has preached non-violence, has recently seen his already marginalized position eroded further. All the more reason for him to have insisted on the United Nations vote, fending off objections and threats from Israel and Washington. So victory in the General Assembly sounds his own strong message: non-violence pays, too.

 

Being accepted as a non-member state, a promotion from its previous observer state, is the Palestinians' biggest political victory. It places them on the path to full recognition as a member-state of the UN, and allows it to join UN agencies such as the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

[Baashi]

Jacphar where is the source

 

Good for them. Now Palestine is a recognized "country" under occupation. Still they are up against Goliath.

[Jacpher]

World News NBC News

 

I think this is more of a symbolic gesture than any real change for the average Palestinians. But they may get the chance to pass their grievance over to the ICC.

[NGONGE]

[N.O.R.F]

Nice surprise this morning.

 

Any idea of who voted for and who voted against?

[Alpha Blondy]

good news.

[General Duke]

N.O.R.F;894527 wrote:

Nice surprise this morning.

 

Any idea of who voted for and who voted against?

Israel, US, Canada & the Chec Republic + some Islands voted against.

Britian abstained. France, Russia & China voted yes..

[Daqane]

Next step taking the jews to the ICC.

[Gheelle.T]

9 countries including US and Canada voted against while 138 countries voted for. There were 41 abstained. Good for the Palestinians, at least they can now join international agencies and organizations.

[N.O.R.F]

General Duke;894570 wrote:

Israel, US, Canada & the Chec Republic + some Islands voted against.

Britian abstained. France, Russia & China voted yes..

Very interesting. The Brits abstaining was a good diplomatic move. France with a big Jewish population voting yes is a surprise. Russia and China voting yes was predictable.