For all the symbolism involved in the Palestinian Authority’s victory at the United Nations by securing a two-thirds majority for its enhanced status as a non-member state, it is a landmark achievement in the Palestinian struggle for statehood 65 years to the date after the UN divided the British-mandated territory into two states. It also indicates the bankruptcy of US and Israeli policies of denying the Palestinians their due.
Coming as the General Assembly vote did shortly after the eight-day war between Hamas and Israel, in which more than 160 Palestinians were killed to Israeli deaths standing at six, with Israel pulling back from a land invasion, it represents a double whammy for Tel Aviv and its American patrons. The pervasive fear in Israel seems to be that Palestine would now seek membership of the International Criminal Court to let it judge Israeli conduct of illegal settlement expansion, expelling Palestinians from their land and other illegal acts under international law.
Israel’s conduct has been guided by the United States underwriting its illegal actions in tearing international law into shreds to achieve its aim of building a Greater Israel. Significantly, former US President Jimmy Carter, who achieved the Camp David Accord by returning the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt in exchange for a peace treaty with Israel sweetened by a bumper American annual aid package to Cairo, has been strongly opposing Israeli policies towards Palestinians.
Ever since, US Presidents have been bound hand and foot to Israeli illegal expansion on occupied territories because of the pervasive influence of the American Jewish lobby on the political system. Besides, there are strategic aspects of Tel Aviv’s usefulness in a highly troubled region. As much of the world looks on aghast at American policies, with Europe split on Israel, Washington seems helpless in promoting a sane outcome and tried (unsuccessfully) to pressure the world into opposing the Palestinian move. Britain put forward the extraordinary proposal asking the Palestinians to promise not to move the International Criminal Court. Germany, for its part, is still wearing sackcloth and ashes for its Nazi past and chose not to oppose Israel.
There are, of course, problems enough for the Palestinians. Hamas, fresh from its diplomatic victory over Israel in the eight-day war, was critical of the Palestine Liberation Organisation of President Mahmoud Abbas for his references to Israel’s legitimacy within the pre-1967 borders. The reunification of the Hamas and Fatah factions still seems a long way. But the Palestinians’ new status does give them the opportunity of seeking membership of UN specialised agencies, with the US threatening to cut off funding; Palestine’s recent accession to Unesco’s membership meant that it had to forego the American contribution.
US President Barack Obama seems to be adopting a gingerly attitude to Israel having burnt his fingers early in his presidency by seeking an end to Israeli illegal-building activities before the resumption of peace talks. He was roundly rebuffed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and had to eat humble pie while the latter was toasted by a joint session of the US Congress. Having a formidable domestic agenda, President Obama would rather not tangle with Tel Aviv which, in most American eyes, can do no wrong.
In immediate terms, the greatest achievement of the Palestinians through the UN vote is to be in the world limelight again. For nearly two years, the dramatic events of the Arab Spring had captured international attention, with the stalemate in Israeli-Palestinian talks receding to the background. On their part, Palestinians have always suspected that many Arab states, while paying lip service to their cause, have been lukewarm in fighting for their rights. The victory in New York is, therefore, doubly precious.
However, the seminal question of how Palestinians can obtain their state within the pre-1967 configuration remains a question mark. Conservative forces in Israel are continuing to gather strength, with Mr Netanyahu hoping to return to power in the next election set for January and the conservative agenda, as has been clear for some time, is to make the prospect of a two-state solution impossible. Israel is asking Mr Abbas to resume talks “without preconditions”, which means that Palestinians have no say as Israel gobbles up more and more land. In a sense, it is a scenario in which Palestine is being invited to its own execution.
The United States has traditionally been opposed to any substantive role for the United Nations in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, seeking to be the sole mediator with its pronounced pro-Israeli bias. The charade of Tony Blair acting as a facilitator has never carried conviction. Thus, while Washington appropriates the role of the only real arbitrator, the rest of the world looks on. Will the UN vote shake the world to snap out of its somnolence to give long-delayed justice to Palestinians?
There are some faint signs of hope. Some European countries — France, Spain and Italy — to name a few, have stood up to be counted. The Arab League has been bestirring itself of late, in sending a team of foreign ministers to Gaza in solidarity with its struggle with Israel. There also seem to be some rethinking in Israel on the cul-de-sac they have got themselves into. Tzipi Livni has re-entered politics to form a new party to seek peace, after the peace constituency has pretty nearly been decimated.
There must also arrive a point in American thinking that will goad more people into re-looking at their blind and total support to Israel’s litany of illegalities in appropriating all occupied Palestinian land into the fold of a Greater Israel. Will President Obama seek to be bolder in his second and final term in correcting his country’s shameful legacy on supporting Israel’s suppression of a whole people on the strength of the belief that they have a God-given right to colonise an ancient land they claim?
The future presents as much of a dilemma for the United States as it does for Israel. The UN vote ensures that the Palestine issue will not be swept away under the carpet.