Seeking Membership at the United Nations
Palestinians are seeking membership at the United Nations, not recognition
The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) declared its independence in 1988 and this remains the foundation for Palestine’s statehood. The premise of this state is derived from international law, such as United Nations General Assembly Resolutions 181 and 393, and the borders Palestinians seek recognition on are based on the internationally recognized borders of 1967, with mutually agreed upon modifications. Palestinians only seek to be accepted as a member state of the UN. Recognition is granted by states individually, and does not need to be re-affirmed collectively.
Seeking membership at the United Nations is not a unilateral step
A unilateral act is when a state singlehandedly decides how to act on an issue that impacts multiple states. A good example of a unilateral act would be a state that changes facts on the ground of an occupied land, through settlement expansion and illegal evictions, despite the objections of the global community. A people, with the support of over 120 sovereign States, turning to the world’s largest multinational forum to seek membership is by definition the antithesis of unilateralism.
Palestinians do not seek to de-legitimize Israel, they seek to legitimize Palestine
Seeking to attain statehood at the United Nations is not a maneuver to isolate or delegitimize Israel, rather than a vehicle to legitimize a Palestinian state that would hold internationally recognized borders. The process in which Palestinians aspire to become a sovereign and independent state is identical to the multilateral process that allowed for the creation of a free and independent state of Israel, which was recognized by the UN in 1948.
Seeking membership is not an alternative to negotiations
Pursuing membership at the United Nations reaffirms the chances of reaching a just and lasting past based on the terms of reference accepted by the international community as the base for putting an end to the conflict. The Palestinians are dedicated to engaging in negotiations. A comprehensive peace agreement will put an end to the conflict and all historical claims once and for all.
Seeking membership preserves the two-state solution
Palestinian efforts are aimed at preserving the two-state solution. It is evident that Israel’s continued illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories casts serious doubt on the intentions of the Netanyahu government to live side by side in peace with a future Palestinian state. The two-state solution corresponds to a universal declaration supported by the international community and more specifically, international bodies such as the World Bank and the United Nations have determined that the ongoing illegal occupation is the sole obstacle for Palestinian statehood.
Palestinians do not seek a confrontation with the United States
The United States Congress must carefully weigh the consequences of cutting off aid to the Palestinians. These measures will only threaten US national security interests and regional stability. Palestinians hope that the United States Congress will provide more support to the administration in its efforts to resume the political process, based on President Obama’s Middle East speech in May of this year. It must be stressed that such actions will not sway the Palestinians from pursuing their objectives to establish an independent sovereign Palestinian state, living side by side with the State of Israel in peace and security.