As part of the ongoing Israeli lobbying campaign against the Palestinian statehood bid at the United Nations this coming September, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister, Danny Ayalon, arrived in Spain on a three-day political tour. Ayalon will be holding several meetings with Spanish officials in an attempt to convince their country to oppose the Palestinian bid to seek international recognition of an independent state at the United Nations this coming September, and to upgrade the Palestinian Authority’s status at the UN to a full member instead of its current “observer” status.
Political sources in Madrid stated that the country has not made any final decision in this regard yet.
Israel has been involved is a compressive campaign trying to convince Europe Union countries, in addition to other countries around the world, to oppose the Palestinian UN move and to convince the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank void its plan, and “return to the negotiations table”.
The United States is opposing the Palestinian move and is threatening to use its veto power to void it. A US veto against UN moves related to the Israeli occupation and its attack is a very familiar scenario.
Despite the anticipated US veto, the Palestinian leadership believes that this bid would highlight the issue, and will likely lead to a political breakthrough despite Israeli threats to isolate the Palestinian Authority (P.A) of Mahmoud Abbas.
The Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), and the P.A, both headed by Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas of Fateh part, withdrew from direct peace talks last year following Israel’s refusal to extend a 10-month freeze on settlement activities, and due to ongoing Israeli military violations, escalation, demolition of homes and other violations in Jerusalem, in addition to the ongoing construction and expansion of settlements.
