The Palestinian people are calling on the world to recognise Palestine as a state. Over 120 countries have endorsed the call, but the US and Israel are opposing and key European leaders are on the fence. If we can persuade Europe and the UK to support this non violent, legitimate bid now, it could spur a dramatic shift towards peace. Click to sign the urgent petition:
In four days the UN Security Council will meet, and the world has an opportunity to embrace a new proposal that could turn the tide on decades of failed Israeli-Palestinian peace talks: UN recognition of the state of Palestine.
Over 120 nations from the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Latin America have already endorsed this initiative, but Israel’s right-wing government and the US vehemently oppose it. The UK and other key European countries are still undecided, but a massive public push now could tip them to vote for this momentous opportunity to end 40 years of military occupation.
US-led peace initiatives have failed for decades, while Israel has confined the Palestinians to small areas, confiscated their lands and blocked their independence. This bold new initiative could be the best opportunity to jump start a resolution of the conflict, but Europe and the UK must take the lead. Let’s build a massive global call for the UK and other European leaders to endorse this statehood bid now, and make clear that citizens across the world support this legitimate, non-violent, diplomatic proposal. Sign the petition and send this to everyone: http://www.avaaz.org/en/independence_for_palestine_uk/?vl
While the roots of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are complex, most people on all sides agree that the best path to peace now is the creation of two states. But repeated peace processes have been undermined by violence on both sides, extensive Israeli settlement-building in the West Bank, and the humanitarian blockade on Gaza. The Israeli occupation has shrunk and fragmented the territory for a Palestinian state and made daily life a crippling ordeal for the Palestinian people. The UN, World Bank and IMF have all recently announced that Palestinians are ready to run an independent state, but say the main constraint to success is the Israeli occupation. Even the US President has called for an end to settlement expansion and a return to the 1967 borders with mutually agreed land-swaps, but Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has furiously refused to cooperate. It’s time for a dramatic shift away from a futile peace process and on to a new path for progress. While the Israeli and US governments are calling the Palestinian initiative ‘unilateral’ and dangerous, in fact the world’s nations overwhelmingly support this diplomatic move away from violence. Global recognition of Palestine could crush extremists, and foster a growing non-violent Palestinian-Israeli movement in step with the democratic momentum across the region. Most importantly, it will rescue a path to a negotiated settlement, allow the Palestinians access to a variety of international institutions that can help advance Palestinian freedom, and send a clear signal to Israel’s pro-settler government that the world will no longer accept their impunity and intransigence.
For too long, Israel has undermined the hope for a Palestinian state. For too long, the US has appeased them, and for too long Europe has hidden behind the US. Right now, France, Spain, Germany, the UK and the High Representative of the EU are on the fence about Palestinian statehood. Let’s appeal to them to stand on the right side of history and support a Palestinian declaration of freedom and independence, with overwhelming support, and financial aid. Sign the urgent petition now to urge Europe to support the bid and back this move for long-term peace in Israel and Palestine: http://www.avaaz.org/en/independence_for_palestine_uk/?vl
Palestinian statehood will not bring a resolution to this intractable conflict overnight, but UN recognition will change the dynamics and will begin to unlock the door towards freedom and peace. Across Palestine, people are preparing, with hope and expectation, to reclaim a freedom their generation has never known. Let’s stand with them and push European leaders to do the same, as they have stood with the people of Egypt, Syria and Libya.
With hope and determination,
Alice, Ricken, Stephanie, Morgan, Pascal, Rewan and the entire Avaaz team
MORE INFORMATION
Abbas vows to continue UN statehood bid http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/07/201171302020819197.html
Arab League will call for Palestinian State at the UN http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/14/us-palestinians-israel-statehood-arabs-idUSTRE76D21020110714
Palestinians and Israelis march for Palestinian statehood: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle-east/israelis-and-arabs-march-in-jerusalem-for-palestinian-statehood/2011/07/15/gIQAQPnSGI_story.html
Israel campaign against UN vote: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/10/israel-plan-block-un-palestinian-state?INTCMP=SRCH
Palestinian call for statehood: http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/47a391f6-b121-11e0-a43e-00144feab49a.html#axzz1SefO7Aor
Palestinian statehood and bypassing Israel: http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/06/20116168535227628.html
UN says Palestinians able to govern own state http://unispal.un.org/pdfs/AHLC-Apr2011_UNSCOrpt.pdf
List of countries recognizing the state of Palestine http://www.avaaz.org/en/countries_recognizing_palestine/?info
One thought on “Palestine: the world's next nation”
What exactly are to be the borders of a new Palestinian state. Is this to be defined by the PA, the PA jointly with Hamas, or are the borders to be left in limbo. Every state has as a defining characteristic, definitive borders, without which a state cannot exist. Does recognition of a Palestinian state require the recognition of a two state solution, with both states having defined
borders, or does it leave that issue open to interpertation. Some
members of the UN may view a Palestinian state as all that territory
that comprised the British Mandate, that is all of what was known as
“Palestine” prior to May 1948. In fact without negogiated borders
with Israel,Jordan, Egypt and Syria, a Palestinian state is whatever
the Palestinians choose it to be.
One thought on “Palestine: the world's next nation”
What exactly are to be the borders of a new Palestinian state. Is this to be defined by the PA, the PA jointly with Hamas, or are the borders to be left in limbo. Every state has as a defining characteristic, definitive borders, without which a state cannot exist. Does recognition of a Palestinian state require the recognition of a two state solution, with both states having defined
borders, or does it leave that issue open to interpertation. Some
members of the UN may view a Palestinian state as all that territory
that comprised the British Mandate, that is all of what was known as
“Palestine” prior to May 1948. In fact without negogiated borders
with Israel,Jordan, Egypt and Syria, a Palestinian state is whatever
the Palestinians choose it to be.