UN bid

The United Nations Security Council, December 30, 2014. (UN Photo/Loey Felipe)

WATCH: How a new UNSC resolution could be a game-changer

Following a number of European parliaments’ recognition of Palestinian statehood, a number of public figures in Israel have launched a petition addressed to the UN Security Council, calling on it to set a date for ending the occupation. Former Israeli Ambassador Alon Liel explains why such a UN resolution could be a game-changer. Read the…

By Social TV February 12, 2015

American diplomat Dennis Ross (Nrbelex/ CC-BY 2.5)

Stop giving Israelis a pass: What Dennis Ross could have said

Former U.S. ambassador and Mideast peace process envoy Dennis Ross penned a ‘New York Times’ op-ed titled, ‘Stop Giving Palestinians a Pass.’ In it, he calls out European diplomats for supporting international efforts to end the occupation while not demanding more of the Palestinians. Below is a duplication of Ross’s op-ed, almost word for word,…

By Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man January 5, 2015

File photo of a Palestinian woman voting in Bethlehem. (Photo by Activestills.org)

Who says Palestinians don’t have a vote in Israeli elections?

By warning that a Palestinian UN resolution might strengthen Netanyahu, Kerry is actually suggesting that Palestinians can influence Israeli elections — just not in the direction Washington was hoping for. The United States is trying to scuttle UN Security Council resolutions seeking an end to the occupation under the pretense that it could strengthen right-wing…

By Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man December 20, 2014

Latest

An Israeli settlement water tank stands near the Ibrahimi Mosque or Tomb of the Patriarchs in the West Bank city of Hebron.

Settlements as punishment prove Palestinian lives are bargaining chip

By using settlements as a punitive response to Palestinian political actions, Israel proves they come at the direct expense of Palestinian statehood, and that it holds all the power in this conflict. Here we go again. Palestinians do something Israel doesn’t approve of, and Israel retaliates by using its unchecked power and leverage to block…

By Mairav Zonszein June 6, 2014

File photo of Fatah official Nabil Shaath (Photo by Janwikifoto/CC)

‘PLO to join 48 int’l organizations, treaties if talks fail’

The current round of peace talks can only continue if the U.S. changes its approach, a senior Fatah official says. The PLO will seek membership in an additional 48 international organizations, treaties and conventions if peace talks are not salvaged by the end of this month, Ma’an news agency quoted senior Palestinian official and Fatah…

By Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man April 7, 2014

Shimon Peres, John Kerry and Mahmoud Abbas in Jordan (World Economic Forum / Benedikt von Loebell)

The peace process is dead, long live the peace process

Abbas stopped a few steps short of ‘going back to the UN,’ which he committed to not doing. So where does that leave Kerry’s peace talks? The peace process is dead; long live the peace process. That was the mood Tuesday night among journalists covering the Middle East as news broke that PLO Chairman Mahmoud…

By Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man April 2, 2014

Celebrations in Ramallah (Oren Ziv / Activestills)

A sad day of ‘victory’ in Ramallah

In spite of the headlines, the international media attention, and the flow of pictures showing celebrating Palestinians waving flags – the UN resolution sparked little excitement or joy in the streets of Ramallah, which is still surrounded by walls and settlements on all sides. If anything, it was an evening of sadness and despair. Traveling…

By Haggai Matar November 30, 2012

Palestinians dance in front of the Israeli separation wall in the West Bank town of Bethlehem in anticipation of the Palestinian bid for "nonmember observer state" status at the United Nations, November 29, 2012. Hours later, the UN General Assembly voted 138-9 in favor of the upgraded status for Palestine, with 41 nations abstaining. (Photo by: Ryan Rodrick Beiler/Activestills.org)

PHOTOS: Palestinians celebrate UN victory

Palestinians throughout the West Bank gathered, first in anticipation, then in celebration of their bid for upgraded status at the United Nations. In a 138-9 vote, with 41 abstentions, the UN General Assembly voted to change Palestine’s status from “nonmember observer entity” to “nonmember observer state.” The landslide victory, including many European nations that changed…

By Activestills November 30, 2012

Netanyahu, Abbas and Clinton, September 2010. (photo: Wikimedia Commons)

In response to Palestinian statehood bid, government issues empty threats

Foreign Minister Lieberman may offer the Palestinians a ‘temporary state’ with no borders, which actually translates to no state at all. The Israeli government is so threatened by the Palestinian Authority’s bid to go to the UN in order to achieve non-member observer state status, that it has gone through a series of moves in…

By Mairav Zonszein November 14, 2012

Last week at the UN, Israel lost America

“Tafasta meruba, lo tafasta,” is a Hebrew saying that means, “If you get too greedy, you end up with nothing,” and it fits well to the arm-twisting job Israel just did on Obama at the UN. By leaning on him too single-handedly to block the Palestinian statehood bid, to pressure countries like Gabon and Bosnia-Herzegovina…

By Larry Derfner September 24, 2011

Netanyahu’s bold initiative: Another “historic” speech

Just like in his Washington visit last spring, the Prime Minister will not bring new political ideas to the UN, only rhetoric directed at the anxious public at home The Israeli morning papers are reporting today (Sunday) that the United States has all but secured the 7 Security Council votes necessary to block the Palestinian…

By Noam Sheizaf September 18, 2011