Palestinian State Vote Could Be 'Dangerous': EU

RAMALLAH, West Bank — A unilateral Palestinian move toward statehood could be "dangerous," the president of the EU parliament said Tuesday during a visit to the West Bank.

Frustrated by a long-standing impasse in peace talks with Israel, the Palestinians have mounted a campaign for international recognition at the U.N. General Assembly in September.

European support would be critical, but EU parliament chief Jerzy Buzek sounded cool to the idea.

Speaking in Ramallah, Buzek said he "understood" the Palestinian position but added it could complicate peace efforts.

Achieving peace through negotiations would be "excellent," he said, "but unilateral declaration could be sometimes even dangerous."

Israel has denounced the move and has urged the Palestinians to return to peace negotiations instead.

Concerned about the possibility of Palestinian riots in September, Israeli police conducted a drill Tuesday simulating large-scale disturbances. Hundreds of police in riot gear took part.

Bentzi Sau, commander of the police Central District, told reporters that police were aware that a unilateral declaration of statehood by the Palestinians "could cause disturbances of the kind we've seen in neighboring Arab countries."

Comments

[RubalKhali]

03:15 AM on 06/19/2011

The vote can be no ore dangerous than it is being an aid worker in Gaza.
01/07/2009 ,The Danish government has summoned the Israeli Ambassador over attacks carried out by the IDF on clinics run by a Danish charity in Gaza.

Israeli warplanes attacked ambulances belonging to DanChurchAid in the Gaza Strip which were clearly marked "Mobile Clinic" and carrying the internationally recognized Red Cross symbol.

The secretary general of DanChurchAid told Reuters "We are deeply chocked that the Israeli air strikes directly prevent the humanitarian aid effort".

[nk5otr]

07:23 PM on 06/19/2011

Gaza: UN officials condemn latest attack on recreational facility

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=35162&Cr=palestin&Cr1=

28 June 2010 –
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the head of United Nations relief operations in Gaza have deplored this morning’s attack on a recreational facility used by children in the territory, the second such incident in a month.
---

Hamas police 'seize aid for Gaza'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7869704.stm

Hamas policemen have seized thousands of blankets and food parcels that were meant to be distributed to Palestinian civilians in Gaza, UN officials say.

---

UN retracts claim over Gaza school attack

http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0204/gaza.html

The UN has retracted a claim that an Israeli strike, which killed more than 40 people in northern Gaza last month, hit a school run by a UN agency.

---

Gaza: UN suspends aid operation after second Hamas-linked theft of supplies

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=29802&Cr=gaza&Cr1=unrwa

6 February 2009 –
The main United Nations relief agency responsible for feeding 900,000 Palestinian refugees in Gaza today suspended all imports of desperately needed aid after Hamas confiscated hundreds of tons of food, the second such seizure in three days.

[liarfire]

01:42 AM on 06/16/2011

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRfhUezbKLw

[hello All]

12:08 PM on 06/16/2011

What I know is they are not the same people who started the "land grab" forcibly and kicking out old, young and children from their homes and not expecting they will pay it back.

[Staxx]

07:26 PM on 06/15/2011

Israel will not be able to control American politicians forever. One day soon, a new, intelligent, patriotic bunch of politicians will be voted into place who will be able to free the U.S from such stranglehold.

[hello All]

12:08 PM on 06/16/2011

Amen.

[Sam Bark]

02:18 AM on 06/17/2011

staxx -- Israel existance is NOT dependent on controlling USA politicians, rather on its ability to defend it borders and support its citizens...... get off your soap box.....

[jamesjv]

06:20 PM on 06/15/2011

Yes, because France, Britain, and the rest of Europe are having no problems with the Mus lims living there. You must be joking. All the Europeans I have spoken to are not happy with the problems Mus lims cause in their country, and understand Israel's problems with the Pales.

Israel has the right to be safe, and the Pales have the right to have a state of their own. Israel understands this, but the Pales don't. They have a mission to destroy Israel, and will settle for nothing less. That is why they constantly attack them. Israel only protects itself. They have never attacked first.

[Nwo2012]

10:40 AM on 06/16/2011

Lies lies lies. Start middle and end.

[hello All]

12:11 PM on 06/16/2011

All the Europeans I have spoken to ........................

Probably you spoke to a group of European who were protesting against the independent Palestinian state. Very biased sample to represent entire Europe.

[charlietuna11]

06:08 PM on 06/15/2011

ASKING AMERICA OR THEIR ALLIES FOR SUPPORT IS NOT RESPONSIBLE. THE SMART THING IS TO WAIT AT LEAST ANOTHER 40 YEARS TO SEE IF CONDITIONS ARE MORE PROMISING.

[Jenna Bean]

05:58 PM on 06/15/2011

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/15/israelipalestinian-talks-_0_n_877294.html

Wanna see mod abuse at it's finest? Go check out this article and watch as the mods allow a one sided argument!

[SaneUSA]

06:30 PM on 06/15/2011

Wanna see whining at it's finest, just look at Jenna's post.

[SaneUSA]

06:59 PM on 06/15/2011

By the way mod abuse doesn't usually lead to a comment section with an almost even split.

[liarfire]

05:25 PM on 06/15/2011

Many of us understand all too well the covert manipulations and deceit going on in government and institutions..we also know that this type of person believes that to lie cheat and steal is to be celebrated as accomplishments of intellect (this is what they tell themselves)
The ego reinforcement of this aberrant thinking has created the spreading human disease of dishonesty manipulation and exploitation of fellow humans..this stacking mentality has created all mans suffering and is devolving us as a species and destroying the planet and its ability to sustain us..the separation of peoples into race and creed in order to justify elimination or oppression and servitude is also part of the disease..the Palestinians what the human right to exist that the Israelis demand for themselves..the disease is in the deceit of the ones obsessed to maintain control.

[myatthwin62]

04:08 PM on 06/15/2011

About time the disenfranchised Palestinians do something different in the face of recalcitrant Israel. This should get their attention and America's.

[Hillside1]

03:52 PM on 06/15/2011

Bibi and Leiberman choose danger to the region over haulting settlement buiding

Their choice, but Israel pays the price

Watch them kick the Israeli Arabs out of Israel quickly

[Sam Bark]

02:21 AM on 06/17/2011

hillside1 -- do you have more fairytale.....LoL

[safeld]

12:57 PM on 06/15/2011

so.. the UN will vote again for a palestinian state? The first time was nov 29, 1947, Israel agreed. the Palestinian waged war.

[liarfire]

02:20 PM on 06/15/2011

safeld came to lie for the Zionists.....what motivates this is race fear.....

[GraphicMatt]

03:51 PM on 06/15/2011

How is that a lie? On that day Israel and Jordan were formed. On that day Israel was attacked. Hey, look at that, your pants seem to be on fire.

[safeld]

11:27 AM on 06/16/2011

the un vote is no lie.. you can research it yourself.. if you know how to?

[tallen]

02:38 PM on 06/15/2011

F&F

Ironic, isn't it.
The palestinians are seeking a state from the UN--but the UN offered it to them over 63 years ago and they rejected it.

[patrickdb]

12:53 PM on 06/16/2011

That's an actual valid reason why Palestinians should not seek it now?

Do tell - was it the exact same group of political individiuals, parties and circumstances? What in law prevents them from asking that in the UN GA?

Answer - false comparison from 63 years ago. Get over it. September is coming, whether you like it or not. And the best part is...you don't like it. You're in a panic, and it galls you.

[Danny Dan]

12:15 AM on 06/18/2011

They did not take what they were given,and do you think they will this time?
No....

[mashtoe]

10:44 AM on 06/15/2011

And why is this anyone's concern? This is the problem with world government. It's just going to lead to more wars and more poverty in developed nations.

[MelissaGoldman]

10:39 AM on 06/15/2011

Of course the Euros see the danger, they are next!
Isn't Serbia so eager to recognize the independence of Kosovo...?
LOL, pot to kettle, baby....

[piul05]

11:02 AM on 06/15/2011

You mean the 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 or 500 bill?

If you refer to the EUROPEANS, I'm sorry to rain on your parade, but public opinion is firmly on the Palestinians' side.

[MelissaGoldman]

11:37 AM on 06/15/2011

and you know this because you interviewed each one?
I've spoken to plenty of Europeans here in Miami and I've yet to find a single one who cares for palestinians and that's putting it nicely....

[European1919]

12:34 PM on 06/15/2011

Yep. Most people here do not care for the jews at all. They feel the Palestinians are hard done by. Support for the underdog.

[gunshy]

10:36 AM on 06/15/2011

Settlements that pock mark the westbank landscape,check points,blockade strangulation,daily demolition of homes and confiscation of property,the most extensive nuclear arsenal this side of US Russia,China,not to mention that big ugly wall.A declaration of statehood trumps all that as a most danderous notion.

[liarfire]

12:27 PM on 06/15/2011

Yup..they know it too...they know the nature of their lies too....they still operate on years old tricks and tactics that have worked on asleep Americans for years...what they dont know is its time to wake up..i think gun fire on the Rachael Corri was the alarm bell...many Americans are not up yet and sleeping in late but eventually we shall all be awake and then the pesky house guest have got to go.....

[BestGuest]

03:18 PM on 06/15/2011

Panic is taking a solid grip on proceedings... All that carefully built upon Hasbara failing at the seams...

fnf....

[Tolms]

10:30 AM on 06/15/2011

People seeking freedom is always dangerous...if you are the one who wishes to keep them in bondage.

[Macready]

12:25 PM on 06/15/2011

fanned & fav'd Tolms . . ditto

[liarfire]

12:28 PM on 06/15/2011

well said Tolms.......

[thedayawaits]

10:25 AM on 06/15/2011

Every time talks fail, Israel takes more settlements. Every time talks stall, Israel is more entrenched than it has ever been, their demands are greater, and Palestinians have it worse than ever before. Only Israel wins by this continued stalling. Declare the state already at the internationally recognized borders!

[Macready]

10:39 AM on 06/15/2011

fanned thedayawaits . . . ditto . . . that is the best and only option for the Palestinians

[Galilee]

12:05 PM on 06/15/2011

So Maybe the Palestinians should accept the offers they get?

[noiz001]

04:25 PM on 06/15/2011

Galilee - I have been saying the same thing. The Palestinians are not in a position to make demands, they are only in a position to accept an offer. Just as Israel accepted the offer of partition and built a great nation, the Palestinians could do the same. The will have to leave behind their ideas of returning to Israel and focus on building their own nation.

[jwcmass]

05:52 PM on 06/15/2011

Well, there is one other thing happening that means the Palestinians don't HAVE to just accept what is offered to them.

I am speaking of the population demographics and the settlement project in the West Bank.

The Palestinians are seeking a state with the 1967 borders (and since this would leave them with 22% of the land, while  Israel retains the other 78%, that seems more than fair to Israel).

If Israel refuses, and blocks recognition at the UN, then don't be surprised if Abbas dissolves the PA and calls for annexation of all the Territories and immediate citizenship in the single state for all Palestinians who live there.

The populations are about equal now -- by which I mean the Jewish Israeli population AND all the Palestinians (those in the OT, Jerusalem and Israel proper) is about equal.

And the Palestinian population is growing MUCH faster than the Jewish Israeli population. (the Palestinian population grew by 1 million over the last decade).

This would mean a single state of Israel with a Palestinian MAJORITY. We all know what that means in elections.

And if Israel tries to follow an apartheid route, that will not last. Just ask South Africa.

So this is a BIG factor in calculating outcomes. The Palestinians have their OWN "facts on the ground"

They are going to demand to be treated as equals -- not as supplicants. And they are standing on their RIGHTS -- not on scraps from the Israeli table.