Palestine: The newest UN Observer STATE

[Electrequiem]

With a margin of 138 "yes" to 9 "No" (and 41 abstentions), Palestine has acquired the status of UN Observer STATE.

Here's the historic voting:



The 9 nations who voted "No":

US, Israel, Canada, Czech Republic, Marshall Islands, Panama, Palau, Micronesia, and Nauru.

[FaHiMa]

Much awaited, much deserved and much more to come! Here's to Palentine!

[Zunaid]

Canada? ATMR where are you?

We will change the attitude in the US. We will.

Congrats Palestine!

[FaHiMa]

^America junior is more firm on this decision than the States themselves *sigh*

[Zunaid]

Originally Posted by FaHiMa
^America junior is more firm on this decision than the States themselves *sigh*

Actually, America jr is not Canada. It's the UK. At least they did not vote no.

[FaHiMa]

Out with the old and in with the new. UK's been so hush about all of this. So, Canada is the new America Jr.

[al Furqaan]

Wow...out of 9 neigh countries I thought virtually all would be major powers (Germany, UK)...interesting to note that 5 are tiny countries with even less importance than Bangladesh (Marshall Islands, Murog Polau, Micronesia, and Nauru, and Panama)...never even heard of 2 of those, and wasn't even aware that Micronesia and MI were countries! The only big dogs are US and Canada. The the only thing the Czechs are good are churning out women for the adult film industry like Pakistan churns out fast bowlers.

Btw, Doc, I'll bet ATMR is facepalming now "Great, one more country thats going to be us by 10 wickets or 100+ runs!"

With both Riyad and Naeem walking into our ODI team, I can't disagree with him anymore.

[iDumb]

Originally Posted by al Furqaan
The the only thing the Czechs are good are churning out women for the adult film industry like Pakistan churns out fast bowlers.

i am impressed by your knowledge regarding this. we should meet for beer.

[al Furqaan]

Originally Posted by iDumb
i am impressed by your knowledge regarding this. we should meet for beer.

I don't drink bro...but next time I'm in the Big Apple we should link up.

[iDumb]

Originally Posted by al Furqaan
I don't drink bro...but next time I'm in the Big Apple we should link up.

coke is fine also. i dont drink bad stuff either.

no input on topic... cont....

[oronnya]

Finally !!!!

Canada of course just being the chatukar here

‎"Baird also suggested Canada will take retaliatory measures against the Palestinians for forcing the statehood issue onto the world stage."
http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Ca...900/story.html

[al Furqaan]

Questions:

1) I'm guessing Germany, UK, and 39 others abstained. What exactly is an abstention serving in this case? Is it an attempt to play both sides and not piss of Israel while at the same time not appearing like overt oppressors or Palestine?

2) It will be interesting to see how the US Congress reacts. The US, by law, must strip what little aid they give to the Palestinians if the UN unilaterally accepts them as a full member but no such stipulation exists for non-member observer state.

3) Nothing will actually change on the ground, in fact conditions may worsen slightly, but for a people who have nothing, a little less than nothing is hardly a deterant. In the long term the added leverage may force the Israelis to negotiate seriously.

[FaHiMa]

Originally Posted by al Furqaan
Questions:

1) I'm guessing Germany, UK, and 39 others abstained. What exactly is an abstention serving in this case? Is it an attempt to play both sides and not piss of Israel while at the same time not appearing like overt oppressors or Palestine?

...

Hmm I had the same question in mind. But seriously Canada? What an embarrassment!

[Ajfar]

Huge slap in the face for U.S. and Israel oh and Canada too.

Here is the full speech from Abbas

[Zunaid]

^^ Take it off line. Back to topic.

[BANFAN]

An important step forward to Nationhood...many more remains. With the shift in Balance of power, things will progress faster in coming decade, I guess...

[Rubu]

Are we getting a bit ahead of ourselves here? It is only symbolic, as far as I can tell, and the only difference is to the access to ICC, which I think is useless to begin with.

Besides being symbolic, what is the big deal?

[Zunaid]

Originally Posted by Rubu
Are we getting a bit ahead of ourselves here? It is only symbolic, as far as I can tell, and the only difference is to the access to ICC, which I think is useless to begin with.

Besides being symbolic, what is the big deal?

Self affirmation. A people that has received nothing for a long while, even this bit is psychologically elevating. It is good to feel good about yourself.

[Electrequiem]

Originally Posted by Zunaid
Self affirmation. A people that has received nothing for a long while, even this bit is psychologically elevating. It is good to feel good about yourself.

Ditto.

On the other hand, Israel has explicitly taken a giant sh*t on every single UN ruling, ever. So they don't take this seriously.

[al Furqaan]

I think Rubu bhai is right this will serve as an added excuse for not negotiating and i doubt ICC will actually hold any hearings.

[Sohel]

This means a lot to the Palestinian people and the ICC access, irrespective of eventual outcome, gives them a little more weight in negotiations with Israel who always approach the issue from a position of disproportional power. So every bit counts.

A d**k move from Barack and a p***y follow up from our 52nd state (UK is the 51st). With 70%+ American Jews consistently voting Democrat and supporting the 2 state solution, this type of subservience to the AIPAC agenda, even on a harmless symbolic gesture, is effedup to say the least.

Maybe the prophesies are real and only divine intervention executed by the Messiah (PBUH) in the 2400s can bring real peace to the holy land in the form of a one state solution where the rights of every individual is zealously guarded against majority opinion. Sadly, the Messiah (PBUH) isn't coming anytime soon, he's not even calling or emailing really, and we need to take some responsibility to do the best we can. It's a damn shame that the revolutionary republic of Jefferson, Franklin, Sam Adams, Madison, JQ Adams, Lincoln, Douglass, Grant, FDR, Eisenhower and MLK has neither the will nor the balls to do the right thing even under Obama.

[Zunaid]

We should remember their support for our independence when most of the Arab world supported Pakistan. Published on 21st August, 1971 - this rare clipping is being shared on FB.

[Electrequiem]

Originally Posted by Zunaid
We should remember their support for our independence when most of the Arab world supported Pakistan. Published on 21st August, 1971 - this rare clipping is being shared on FB.

Thanks for this, Doc. This was quite touching to read.

[Sohel]

^Israel also supported us despite US objections and was one of the first countries to recognize us.

[Zunaid]

Originally Posted by Sohel
^Israel also supported us despite US objections and was one of the first countries to recognize us.

Well part of the problem had been the Arabs themselves - had they not been hell-bent on driving the Israelis into the sea and blowing up buses with children in them, they could have won the moral war a long time ago the quite possibly had made better traction on war for the hearts and minds in the US. Let's face it as long as Israel is giving almost free reign and token slaps by my new country - they don;t really feel any compulsion to act. Add to the mix, the temporary demographic imbalance by the more intransigent and extreme immigrants from Eastern Europe the hawks have the sway. But the long term demographic clock is ticking - both in the middle east and in the US and the end is inevitable. The only question is, how many more generations of Palestinians will be suffering in virtual jails in their own land.