Palestinians win upgraded UN status by wide margin

[Jimbuna]

No big surprise really but what is of concern as a possible consequence to the change in recognition status is the announcement by Israel it is to build 3,000 more housing units in occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank.

It could be that the two sides are drifting even further apart now the Palestinians have said they will not return to peace talks without a freeze in settlement building.

The UN General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly to recognise Palestine as a non-member observer state - a move strongly opposed by Israel and the US.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said this was the "last chance to save the two-state solution" with Israel.
Israel's UN envoy said the bid pushed the peace process "backwards", while the US said the move was "unfortunate".
The Palestinians can now take part in UN debates and potentially join bodies like the International Criminal Court.
The assembly voted 138-9 in favour, with 41 nations abstaining.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20550864

Israel has authorised the construction of 3,000 more housing units in occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank, according to Israeli officials.
It is also speeding up the processing of 1,000 planning permissions.
The Palestinian Authority has said it will not return to peace talks without a freeze in settlement building.
The decision comes a day after a vote at the UN General Assembly upgraded the Palestinians' status at the UN to that of non-member observer state.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20552391

[eddie]

A never ending mess over there, sadly.

[STEED]

Palestinians win upgraded UN status by wide margin

Means nothing, same as the Vatican City.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by STEED

Means nothing, same as the Vatican City.

Depends on your perspecive. They are qualified now to ask for access to UN High Courts where they could sue Israel over practically everything. And that will mean even more diplomatic sh!tstorms fore Israel, even more one-sided UN name-calling against Israel, and Israel thus retaliating against the Palestinians by settling in the Westbank even more. Palestinians on their behalf will feel encouraged and rewarded by the world to have have set up maximum demands and not consider any compromises - what they cannot get in negotiations they now will sue Israel for. And Israel will of course not comply because it would be stupid and suicidal to do so. Which means even more diplomatic anger at Israel.

A pressure cooker on the stove.

Or Israel complies with all demands, especially with the riught to unlimited movement into Israel. Then it will have disappeared to be Israel in one generation or so.

So, it means a lot what happened yesterday. It is a major strategic defeat for Israel, with negative longterm consequences, and means an escalation of the mutual hostility.

And all this with Egypt falling more and more under dictatorship by the MB fundamentalists. With the new house rules being passed by the MB council, Egypt already is much more backwardly oriented and tyrannic now as it ever was under Mubarak. The Christians, women and few secular-oriented in Egypt have lost it all.

Nice mixture, Israel, Palestinians, Egypt and all that. Can only become more entertaining. Cheers!

They are qualified now to ask for access to UN High Courts where they could sue Israel over practically everything.

the price of ignorance

No big surprise really but what is of concern as a possible consequence to the change in recognition status is the announcement by Israel it is to build 3,000 more housing units in occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank.

It could be that the two sides are drifting even further apart now the Palestinians have said they will not return to peace talks without a freeze in settlement building.

The problem there is sending the wrong message entirely.
Try a peaceful diplomatic move and get buggered, some contrast with hamas launching random missiles and getting their concessions isn't it.
Plus of course with the settlement expansion it not only makes Isreal look like a silly criminal spoilt brat it also pushes the state further into the black hole of bankrupcy

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by eddie

A never ending mess over there, sadly.

[Jimbuna]

West Bank cheers Mahmoud Abbas after UN vote

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has returned to a hero's welcome in the West Bank after his successful move to upgrade the Palestinians' UN status.

The Israeli response:

In response Israel halted the transfer of tax revenues to the Palestinian Authority (PA).
The decision, announced on Sunday by the Israeli finance ministry, means 460m shekels ($120m; £75m) will be withheld in December.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20572934

The Israeli response:

It really looks like Netanyahu wants Hamas to take over the west bank too

[Rockstar]

Well, if Im not mistaken in addition to revenue, Israel already provides, the doctors, medical facilities, electrical power and potable water services to these pin heads. The only border closed is the seaside and for good reason. Land borders are and always have been open to supply what these pinheads cannot provide for themselves.

I suppose though if these pin head want statehood then just be sure to let them have all that comes with it. They will soon find out they wont have time to educate their children how to through hand grenades at Israelis but rather actually have to train professionals to run basic services to their citizens instead.

Well, if Im not mistaken in addition to revenue, Israel already provides, the doctors, medical facilities, electrical power and potable water services to these pin heads. The only border closed is the seaside and for good reason. Land borders are and always have been open to supply what these pinheads cannot provide for themselves.

Clueless much?

[Tchocky]

Originally Posted by Rockstar

Well, if Im not mistaken in addition to revenue, Israel already provides, the doctors, medical facilities, electrical power and potable water services to these pin heads. The only border closed is the seaside and for good reason. Land borders are and always have been open to supply what these pinheads cannot provide for themselves.

You are mistaken.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Tribesman

Clueless much?

Originally Posted by Tchocky

You are mistaken.

So what is the true situation?

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

So what is the true situation?

Borders are closed indeed, but Israel lets through items and deliveries considered to be vital for the population's survival. Palestinians try to define many classes of goods as "vital" that could also serve a military purpose - the most prominent example concrete, which can be used to build a private house - or a reinforced HQ post under a school, or a bunker. That's why Israel limits the quantity of this allowed in.

However, Israel insists of controlling everything being send for the Palestinians, they do not let anything in uncontrolled. Which is reasonable.

The naval blockade also is enforced, every freighter heading for Gaza gets redirected to an Israeli harbour, controlled there, and then the items might or might not be delivered via street transport.

Smuggling is a constant business under the Egyptian border. With most of the Sinai being lost for Egypt's control (maybe even intentionally, considering the new regime in Cairo), it now is in hands of terrorists and smugglers alike.

Fact is that you can buy every luxury good you can imagine in Gaza, if you have the money. Many Palestinians make a fortune by abusing their own people.

On the naval blockade, it is to be reminded of that by international law the blockade as explained and established by Israel is valid and is in conformity with international laws regulating the establishing of such a blockade. The same law fundament enforces Israel to not accept a single exception passing through, because international law says the moment a single ship breaks the blockade or is allowed though, the whole blockade has become invalid.

So what is the true situation?

The true situation is someone made a pinheaded comment while trying to refer to others as pinheads

The revenue in question Israel "provides" is actually Palestinian taxes so its Palestinian money not Israels.
Doctors and medical services are provided from a wide range of sources, though Israel is obliged to do so in zone C
Electrical power is both imported and domestic, though Israel is obliged to do so in zone C
Water? Israel controls over 3/4 of all water sources in the occupied west bank, so it generously supplies Palestinians with some of the Palestinians own water.
Borders? All zone C, thats how Israel is the one collecting the trade tax as it controls all borders.
Seaside? He must mean the Dead Sea as the West Bank is somewhat landlocked But thats also zone C so also Israeli controlled.

So in a nutshell he managed to get just about everything in his post wrong, which is quite pinheaded isn't it.

Now I suppose they could cut back on their legal obligation to run the Palestinians services, after all their occupation does mean they have to run as an occpying power the 60+% of the west bank that is still under Israeli direct military and civil rule plus to a lesser extent the 20% that is under just military rule.

On the naval blockade, it is to be reminded of that by international law the blockade as explained and established by Israel is valid and is in conformity with international laws regulating the establishing of such a blockade. The same law fundament enforces Israel to not accept a single exception passing through, because international law says the moment a single ship breaks the blockade or is allowed though, the whole blockade has become invalid.

Skybull