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| UN appears set to upgrade Palestine status in face of US-Israeli opposition | UN appears set to upgrade Palestine status in face of US-Israeli opposition |
| (4 months later) | |
| The United Nations general assembly is set to deliver a momentous vote on Thursday that potentially moves the Palestinians along the road to statehood, a step that will be hailed by their leader Mahmoud Abbas as a diplomatic breakthrough in the face of Israeli and US opposition. | The United Nations general assembly is set to deliver a momentous vote on Thursday that potentially moves the Palestinians along the road to statehood, a step that will be hailed by their leader Mahmoud Abbas as a diplomatic breakthrough in the face of Israeli and US opposition. |
| An overwhelming majority of the 193-member world organisation were lining up to back upgrading Palestine from UN observer status to that of a non-member state. Israel and the US faced being left largely isolated on the issue. | An overwhelming majority of the 193-member world organisation were lining up to back upgrading Palestine from UN observer status to that of a non-member state. Israel and the US faced being left largely isolated on the issue. |
| The vote was held on the 65th anniversary of the UN voting to partition what had been British-ruled Palestine into Jewish and Arab states. | The vote was held on the 65th anniversary of the UN voting to partition what had been British-ruled Palestine into Jewish and Arab states. |
| The president of the general assembly, Vuk Jeremic, of Serbia, opening a day devoted almost entirely to the Israeli-Palestinian issue, said the vote "would achieve what was envisaged in 1947, a two-state solution". He hoped too that it would see a return by Israel and the Palestinians, in the aftermath of the conflict in Gaza earlier this month, to negotiations. | The president of the general assembly, Vuk Jeremic, of Serbia, opening a day devoted almost entirely to the Israeli-Palestinian issue, said the vote "would achieve what was envisaged in 1947, a two-state solution". He hoped too that it would see a return by Israel and the Palestinians, in the aftermath of the conflict in Gaza earlier this month, to negotiations. |
| The Palestinian foreign minister, Riyad al-Malki, told the general assembly: "We are humbled by this historic support." | The Palestinian foreign minister, Riyad al-Malki, told the general assembly: "We are humbled by this historic support." |
| The Israeli government had threatened to retaliate by imposing punitive financial penalties against the Palestinian authority but has since softened its line. | The Israeli government had threatened to retaliate by imposing punitive financial penalties against the Palestinian authority but has since softened its line. |
| Having failed to block the vote, Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu instead downplayed its significance, saying it would not bring Palestinian independence any closer. | Having failed to block the vote, Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu instead downplayed its significance, saying it would not bring Palestinian independence any closer. |
| Netanyahu, speaking from Jerusalem, said: "The decision at the United Nations will change nothing on the ground. It will not advance the establishment of a Palestinian state. It will delay it further." | Netanyahu, speaking from Jerusalem, said: "The decision at the United Nations will change nothing on the ground. It will not advance the establishment of a Palestinian state. It will delay it further." |
| He added: "No matter how many hands are raised against us there is no power on earth that will cause me to compromise on Israel's security." | He added: "No matter how many hands are raised against us there is no power on earth that will cause me to compromise on Israel's security." |
| But Netanyahu's dismissal was undermined by the vigour with which, backed by the US, it worked to try to stop it. | But Netanyahu's dismissal was undermined by the vigour with which, backed by the US, it worked to try to stop it. |
| The US State Department even sent the deputy secretary of state Bill Burns to see Abbas on Wednesday in late, futile attempt to stop the vote. | The US State Department even sent the deputy secretary of state Bill Burns to see Abbas on Wednesday in late, futile attempt to stop the vote. |
| A diplomatic triumph for Abbas helps offset a little the prominence achieved by the rival Palestinian faction Hamas during the Gaza conflict. | A diplomatic triumph for Abbas helps offset a little the prominence achieved by the rival Palestinian faction Hamas during the Gaza conflict. |
| Some countries, especially in Europe, switched from abstention to support out of a feeling that Abbas needed to be bolstered. | Some countries, especially in Europe, switched from abstention to support out of a feeling that Abbas needed to be bolstered. |
| The vote comes a year after a failed attempt by Abbas to secure recognition by the UN security council of full UN membership for Palestine. The general assembly vote falls well short of that, giving Palestine only non-member status, the same as the Vatican. But it is a step up from its present observer status. | The vote comes a year after a failed attempt by Abbas to secure recognition by the UN security council of full UN membership for Palestine. The general assembly vote falls well short of that, giving Palestine only non-member status, the same as the Vatican. But it is a step up from its present observer status. |
| Malki said the Palestinian preference was for full membership and he hoped that the security council would one day soon agree to this. But in the interim he welcomed the vote Thursday as an "investment in peace" and support for a two-state solution. | Malki said the Palestinian preference was for full membership and he hoped that the security council would one day soon agree to this. But in the interim he welcomed the vote Thursday as an "investment in peace" and support for a two-state solution. |
| The elevation to non-member status is more than just symbolic. The Palestinians could potentially use it to apply for membership of bodies such as the International Criminal Court, which would then allow it to try to launch a case against Jewish settlements in the West Bank or any further Israeli military action in Gaza or the West Bank. | The elevation to non-member status is more than just symbolic. The Palestinians could potentially use it to apply for membership of bodies such as the International Criminal Court, which would then allow it to try to launch a case against Jewish settlements in the West Bank or any further Israeli military action in Gaza or the West Bank. |
| The Israelis and the US, along with Britain, pressed the Palestinians to give assurances that they would not press immediately for ICC membership. Although the Palestinians said they do not plan to do this, they refused to give that pledge. | The Israelis and the US, along with Britain, pressed the Palestinians to give assurances that they would not press immediately for ICC membership. Although the Palestinians said they do not plan to do this, they refused to give that pledge. |
| The British government said it would wait until the last minute to hear from the Palestinians before deciding whether to abstain or vote for non-member status. It wanted a clear assurance that the Palestinians would not seek ICC membership and that it would also promise to return to the negotiating table with Israel. | The British government said it would wait until the last minute to hear from the Palestinians before deciding whether to abstain or vote for non-member status. It wanted a clear assurance that the Palestinians would not seek ICC membership and that it would also promise to return to the negotiating table with Israel. |
| Israeli foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman had threatened two weeks ago that a vote for non-member status would trigger "an extreme response from us". | Israeli foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman had threatened two weeks ago that a vote for non-member status would trigger "an extreme response from us". |
| But the Obama administration, Britain and other countries have pressed Israel to show restraint. They are motivated in part by a need to bolster Abbas, who is regarded as a moderate and who was sidelined during the Gaza conflict. | But the Obama administration, Britain and other countries have pressed Israel to show restraint. They are motivated in part by a need to bolster Abbas, who is regarded as a moderate and who was sidelined during the Gaza conflict. |
| The Israeli government is now threatening to show its displeasure by withholding about $200m from the monthly transfers of duties that Israel collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority. | The Israeli government is now threatening to show its displeasure by withholding about $200m from the monthly transfers of duties that Israel collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority. |
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