Supporters of Palestinian state could circumvent U.S. veto at United Nations

[dkf]

President Obama said Thursday that Palestinian "efforts to delegitimize Israel will end in failure," adding that "symbolic actions to isolate Israel at the United Nations in September won't create an independent state."

In terms of formal U.N. membership, he is correct. Chapter II, Article 4 of the U.N. Charter says, "The admission of any such state to membership in the United Nations will be effected by a decision of the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council."

That suggests that the U.S., a member of the Security Council, would veto any Palestinian membership if negotiations with Israel do not succeed.

But a U.S. veto may ultimately not matter. An effort is underway at the U.N. to garner support for a General Assembly vote in favor of Palestinian membership. Supporters would have to find 193 votes to have the required two-thirds majority of the General Assembly.

The plan is to then invoke General Assembly Resolution 377 A (V), which was given the title "Uniting for Peace." Passed in 1950, according to the U.N. treaty documents, it "states that where the Security Council, because of lack of unanimity of the permanent members, fails to exercise its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, the General Assembly shall seize itself of the matter." That basically means that the U.N. General Assembly would bypass the U.N. Security Council.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20064778-503544.html

[Harmony Blue]

1. This vote is said to take place

in the Fall of 2011. All indications show that this is the direction that the world is heading right now with the exception of two members of the U.N. What could alter the vote is resumed hostilities, or the collapse of Palestinian unity. But I suspect, that, this time around this vote is unavoidable.

[jaysunb]

3. "Resumed hostilities, " is what I fear most, but

resigned to accept as a very real probability. No way the Israelis are going to let it get to the point of a GA vote.

How sad that such a small group of a great people can totally mess it up for everybody. Kinda reminds me of the good old US of A . :evilfrown:

btw: welcome to DU. :hi:

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

2. Good.

[joshcryer]

4. Note that France plans to recognize a Palestinian state.

The US will be remiss to fail to do so.

[dkf]

5. Most seem prepared to do so.

Else we could not be fearing a vote of 2 vs. Everyone else.

[joshcryer]

6. I wasn't aware of that, very interesting. Will look in to it more.

This stupid DSK thing...

[dkf]

7. Here...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=1144116&mesg_id=1144116

[Scottybeamer70]

8. The US has vetoed every other

resolution against Israel for years........doubt this will be any different.

[dkf]

9. Yes but the difference is the majority might be doing an end run around the

Security council and taking it to the General Assembly.

It wouldn't be exactly the same status if it got okayed in the SC but it would still have weight.