Palestine wins vote for UNESCO membership

[armored_diplomacy]

The punitive measures are because the Palestinians violated the previously signed accords through their unilateral bids for recogntion of an independent Palestinian state, by the UNSC and UNESCO. These bids violate the agreements signed with Israel and sponsored by the US, according to which the final should be determined through a negotiated accord.

I didn´t know that, thanks for the info.

[Camera]

I didn´t know that, thanks for the info.

That is also one of the main reasons the US is opposing so firmly to all these unilateral Palestinian steps. The US was a sponsor to all the agreements since the Oslo Accords, signed in the White House, and Abbas is fooling now the US just as he is fooling Israel.

[Atlantic Friend]

The punitive measures are because the Palestinians violated the previously signed accords through their unilateral bids for recogntion of an independent Palestinian state, by the UNSC and UNESCO. These bids violate the agreements signed with Israel and sponsored by the US, according to which the final status should be determined ONLY through a negotiated agreement and not through unilateral steps.

But you don't have to be an independent state to be accepted as a UNESCO member, so how does that membership violates the previous agreements? Did those specifically forbid the PA from seeking non-independent state recognition as well?

[Camera]

But you don't have to be an independent state to be accepted as a UNESCO member, so how does that membership violates the previous agreements? Did those specifically forbid the PA from seeking non-independent state recognition as well?

The bid to the UNSC was already a violation of the agreements, because it seeks a unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state, while bypassing negotiations. Israel threatened to take punitive measures for that reason, but finally refrained from doing so, because the bid won't pass and also because it wants to facilitate the negotiations the Quarter is promoting.
But now, Israeli officials say they are going to take punitive measures for the bid to UNESCO. I'm not sure this bid also violated the bilateral agreements, but it could be. I'll check out and I'll answer you.

[IconOfEvi]

US cuts off $60M UNESCO funding over Palestinian vote


Washington follows through on threat to halt financial support to UN's Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization if it grants PA full-member status. UN Chief Ban warns of further fiscal ramifications

Yitzhak Benhorin

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7...142143,00.html

Wow, to be honest, I didn't think they would actually do it!

Legitimately impressed

[Atlantic Friend]

The UNSC bid, absolutely, that is ground enough to warrant retaliatory measures as per the aforementioned agreements.

[Camera]

The UNSC bid, absolutely, that is ground enough to warrant retaliatory measures as per the aforementioned agreements.

I remember I read some two weeks ago that the bid to become a full member to UNESCO, which is a UN body violates, violates Oslo agreements. I don't remember where I read it, so I can not find the link right now.
I believe more information will be available on the news sites in the days to come.

I found this statement made by Nethanyau and quoted by msn news:

Israel angry, Palestinians triumphant over UNESCO vote


Israel on Monday lashed out after UNESCO voted to grant 'Palestine' full membership, in a move which was hailed by Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas as a "victory" for his people's rights.

(…)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Palestinian bid to win membership at the United Nations as well as in other UN bodies was an attempt to secure a state without a peace deal, in what he described as a "crude violation" of the commitment to resolve the conflict through negotiations.

http://news.ph.msn.com/top-stories/a...mentid=5473220

[Atlantic Friend]

It's odd that Israel didn't seek retaliation after the UNSC bid, come to think of it, even if the bid was aborted. Maybe "no sanctions" was part of the diplomatic ballet that had Abbas put the bid on hold.

[Camera]

It's odd that Israel didn't seek retaliation after the UNSC bid, come to think of it, even if the bid was aborted. Maybe "no sanctions" was part of the diplomatic ballet that had Abbas put the bid on hold.

I guess you are right.
Obama, who stated he will veto the bid, asked Israel not to sanction Abbas in order to facilitate the initiative of the Quarter to restart talks.

[Atlantic Friend]

Now the UNESCO "punition" makes a lot more sense indeed. It may not be strictly against past agreements per se, but it follows another bid which clearly was, so this time there's no freebie. Thanks!

[Camera]

Now the UNESCO "punition" makes a lot more sense indeed. It may not be strictly against past agreements per se, but it follows another bid which clearly was, so this time there's no freebie. Thanks!

And BTW, the Quartet didn't manage to make the Palestinians go back to talks.



Here's what the pupils learn in PA's schools funded by the EU:


NGO: PA doesn’t meet UNESCO statehood guidelines

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
11/01/2011 01:26

IMPACT-SE report uncovers continued demonization of Israel and Jews in Palestinian textbooks.

(…)

IMPACT-SE is a research organization that monitors and analyzes schoolbooks and curricula across the Middle East with an eye toward determining their compliance with international standards on peace and tolerance, a goal derived directly from UNESCO declarations and resolutions.

“The monitoring of the Palestinian schoolbooks in use for the school year 2011 shows that the fundamentals against Israel and the Jews are upheld,” the study concluded.

It said that the fundamentals included negating both Israel and the Jews.

(…)

“The Oslo accords and the Declaration of Principles are mentioned and even quoted, but they are not praised and a peacefully negotiated settlement is not advocated or supported,” said the authors of the study.

“In contrast, there is a lot of praise for jihad and martyrdom to free Palestine without defining clearly the territory to be liberated, hence implying that Israel’s territory is also to be liberated.”

The study quotes the following paragraph from a Grade 8 book: “Today the Muslim countries need urgently jihad and jihad fighters in order to liberate the robbed lands and to get rid of the robbing Jews from the robbed lands in Palestine and in the Levant.”

http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPol...aspx?id=243916

[Atlantic Friend]

Splendid, we'll get another generation of brainwashed...

[Piano]

America should just withdraw all its (massive) funding for the UN and spend the money domestically and on something worthwhile.

[Atlantic Friend]

America should just withdraw all its (massive) funding for the UN and spend the money domestically and on something worthwhile.

Won't ever happen.

[Piano]

Won't ever happen.

Why not? They could both save billions over the years, and reduce the power of the UN (which is mainly an anti-Western instrument).