Posted 9/26/11
Written by Sara Weber
After decades of Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the United Nations (UN) is finally beginning to pay attention. The past few weeks has been filled with various banter and warning from different nations arguing the validity of a Palestinian State. Palestine has been appealing for statehood to the UN since 1967, trying to earn full membership as opposed to its current observer status that renders their vote merely symbolic in many cases.
Stephen Wright, a political science teacher at NAU, believes that Palestine is trying for statehood out of prolonged dissatisfaction. “They are frustrated . . . and trying, I think, to push Israel and the United States into better negotiations. . . . They feel that if they can get more status in the United Nations and at least get more observer status as a state, or recognition as a state, then that will give them more leverage within the United Nations system.”
John Kelly, a political science major as well as a member of the NAU Model UN Club, adds that the possibility of Palestine becoming its own state offers the world an example of peaceful resolution. “ . . . It would reassure the world that there are methods of reconciliation for groups and individuals, as well as possibility for a new age for those groups who do not have a voice.
Recently, President Obama has stepped in and announced that the United States would veto the vote for Palestinian statehood. “ . . . it is Israelis and Palestinians who must live side by side . . . Israelis and Palestinians, not us, must reach agreement on the issues that divide them,” said Obama.
See Obama’s speech at the United Nations website:
U.N. News Centre
Though the issue is still in the hands of the UN and there does not appear to be a quick fix to the argument, Kelly encourages students to take interest in the debate.
“This UN vote is crucial in either suppressing or enraging these dangerous [Middle East] situations and affects virtually all aspects of foreign policy. If you care about war, gas prices, human death, violence, civil rights, democracy, education, economics, trade or many of the other factors in this debate, then you should definitely care about the Palestine-Israel conflict.”
Wright echoes the seriousness of the situation:
“We’ve been fighting over Israel for a long time. It destabilizes and we don’t know where it’s heading . . . Things could get worse. . . .dangerous. We may be on the wrong side of history. We just don’t know,” said Wright.
Whether or not Palestine will be granted full membership and a seat in the United Nations is unclear. However, it will remain an important issue for the Middle East as well as the United States. It also poses a serious point to everyone; even students, that the world is in a constant state of change and if you’re not paying attention you could miss out.
