As the vote approaches, the Palestinians seem to be garnering all needed support to be recognized as a nonmember observer state at the United Nations General Assembly with more than 150 countries supporting the Palestinian bid, while Israel and the United States are heading the short list of “No”.The bid recognizes Palestine as a nonmember state, within the 1967 border.
The vote will take place after Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, delivers his speech at the UN followed by Israel’s Ambassador, Ron Prosor, who will try to convince the world not to upgrade the status of Palestine.
But, unless Israel and the U.S. manage to make a huge direct change in world opinion in the very short remaining time, it seems that the General Assembly will pass, today, Thursday November 29, a resolution recognizing Palestine as a non-member observer state. Both Israel and the U.S. has been rallying against the move but were unable to garner a majority.
150 countries will very likely support the Palestinian bid at the General Assembly, while Israeli political analysts said that Tel Aviv “will face a humiliating political defeat”, Israeli daily, Haaretz, reported.
Haaretz said that Israel and the United States are joined in their rejection of the bid with Canada, the Marshall Islands, and Micronesia, and likely with Germany and the Czech Republic.
Haaretz quoted an official at the Israeli Foreign Ministry stating that “Israel is facing a serious situation, will be hit hard, and will be almost standing alone”.
Despite differences in opinion among countries of the European Union, the Palestinians seem to have managed to garner the support of 13 states; France, Cyprus, Spain, Portugal, Finland, Denmark, Luxembourg , Malta , Austria, Italy, Ireland, Greece and Sweden. Switzerland and Norway (non EU members) expressed support to the Palestinian bid.
It is worth mentioning that by becoming a nonmember observer state, the Palestinians will have access to many UN institutions, including access to the International Criminal Court where the Palestinian Authority will be filing suits against Israel for war crimes committed against the Palestinian people.
