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The 193-nation U.N. General Assembly on Thursday overwhelmingly approved the de facto recognition of a sovereign Palestinian state after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called on the world body to issue its long overdue "birth certificate."
There were 138 votes in favor, nine against and 41 abstentions. Three countries did not take part in the vote to upgrade the Palestinian Authority's observer status at the United Nations to "non-member state" from "entity."
A new Palestinian unity government has been sworn in, marking a key step towards ending a major rift between factions in the West Bank and Gaza.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas hailed the event, saying "a black page in history has been turned forever".
The two sides had governed separately since Hamas, which won elections in 2006, ousted Fatah from Gaza in 2007.
...
The new government comprises 17 politically independent ministers and must organise elections to be held within six months.
It is headed by incumbent Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah.
1. Affirms that the status of the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, remains one of military occupation, and affirms, in accordance with the rules and principles of international law and relevant resolutions of the United Nations, including Security Council resolutions, that the Palestinian people have the right to self-determination and to sovereignty over their territory and that Israel, the occupying Power, has only the duties and obligations of an occupying Power under the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949 and the Regulations annexed to the Hague Convention respecting the Laws and Customs of War on Land, of 1907;
2. Expresses its determination to contribute to the achievement of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and the attainment of a just and comprehensive negotiated peace settlement in the Middle East resulting in two viable, sovereign and independent States, Israel and Palestine, based on the pre-1967 borders and living side by side in peace and security.
Israel rejects the interpretation of the convention applying it to Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, stating that those territories were captured in 1967 as a result of a defensive war against countries which had illegally occupied them since 1948. However, a 1999 resolution was unanimously passed stating that the Fourth Geneva Convention does apply to Israeli settlements in the "occupied territories."
Article 51: Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of collective or individual self-defence if an armed attack occurs against a member of the United Nations, until the Security Council has taken the measures necessary to maintain international peace and security. Measures taken by members in exercise of this right of self-defence shall be immediately reported to the Security Council and shall not in any way affect the authority and responsibility of the Security Council under the present Charter to take at any time such action as it deems necessary in order to maintain or restore international peace and security.
Although Arts 2 (4) and 51 UN Charter are couched in terms of the rights and obligations of members of the UN, it is now generally accepted that, in almost all respects, they reflect rules of customary international law which are equally applicable to all States, irrespective of whether they are Members of the UN. An exception is the procedural provision in Art. 51 UN Charter, which requires that States report to the Security Council measures taken in self-defence. This provision was considered by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as an innovation (see para. 31 below) which had not yet brought about a change in the customary international law on self-defence (Nicaragua Case paras 200 and 235).
It is generally considered that, for a resort to force to constitute a lawful exercise of the right of self-defence, it must meet the following conditions:
1. i) it must be a response to an armed attack;
2. ii) the use of force, and the degree of force used, must be necessary and proportionate; and
3. iii) it must be reported to the Security Council and must cease when the Security Council has taken ‘measures necessary to maintain international peace and security’.
Emphasizing the importance of the universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination and of the speedy granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples for the effective guarantee and observance of human rights,
Concerned that many peoples are still denied the right to self-determination and are still subject to colonial and alien domination
…
1. Affirms the legitimacy of the struggle of peoples under colonial and alien domination recognized as being entitled to the right of self-determination to restore to themselves that right by any means at their disposal;
2. Recognizes the right of peoples under colonial and alien domination in the legitimate exercise of their right to self-determination to seek and receive all kinds of moral and material assistance, in accordance with the resolutions of the United Nations and the spirit of the Charter of the United Nations;
3. Calls upon all Governments that deny the right to self-determination of peoples under colonial and alien domination to recognize and observe that right in accordance with the relevant international instruments and the principles and spirit of the Charter;
4. Considers that the acquisition and retention of territory in contravention of the right of the people of that territory to self-determination is inadmissible and a gross violation of the Charter;
5. Condemns those Governments that deny the right to self-determination of peoples recognized as being entitled to it, especially of the peoples of southern Africa and Palestine…
1. Affirms the legitimacy of the struggle of peoples under colonial and alien domination recognized as being entitled to the right of self-determination to restore to themselves that right by any means at their disposal…
originally posted by: Ceeker63
I agree that Palestine is a sovereign country. However, Israel has been attacked from within Palestine. Hamas is causing all the grief from within Palestine. So I would think that Hamas has gotten the go ahead from Palestine to launch those rockets into Israel. Or Hamas decided on their own they would launch the rockets without Palestine approval. Hamas is using humans as shields. Which is the most cowardly thing a militant organization can do.
So what is Israel suppose to do? Just sit there and get shelled? No they have to defend themselves.
originally posted by: Senators
You need to quit using academia for defining what a state is.
It really doesn't matter what the definition in Webster's Dictionary says.
What defines a state is a group of people who are strong enough to stick their flag in the ground and defend it.
That is qualifies you as a state, nothing else is relevant. Jumping up in the air and waving a silly piece of paper around does not afford you Statehood.
originally posted by: gladtobehere
a reply to: daaskapital
Actually thats part of the problem, they wont allow Palestine to re-establish its internationally recognized borders.
If you dont have borders, you dont have a nation, without a nation theres no sovereignty, without sovereignty you cant claim any State rights...
originally posted by: daaskapital
originally posted by: Senators
You need to quit using academia for defining what a state is.
It really doesn't matter what the definition in Webster's Dictionary says.
What defines a state is a group of people who are strong enough to stick their flag in the ground and defend it.
That is qualifies you as a state, nothing else is relevant. Jumping up in the air and waving a silly piece of paper around does not afford you Statehood.
Academia is better than going off your personal opinion...
originally posted by: Senators
originally posted by: daaskapital
originally posted by: Senators
You need to quit using academia for defining what a state is.
It really doesn't matter what the definition in Webster's Dictionary says.
What defines a state is a group of people who are strong enough to stick their flag in the ground and defend it.
That is qualifies you as a state, nothing else is relevant. Jumping up in the air and waving a silly piece of paper around does not afford you Statehood.
Academia is better than going off your personal opinion...
It is not personal opinion, it is a fact.
Nations that cannot defend themselves, either politically or militarily, will fall.
That is what happens.
Palestine cannot do either because of their inept leadership and unwillingness to unite as a people and fight for their nation. Instead, their plan is to create mass casualties among their populace and play the sympathy card but the problem is that nobody actually likes the Palestinians, even their Arab neighbors cannot stand them.
originally posted by: Senators
a reply to: daaskapital
On paper sure, but is the UN stepping up to defend Palestine?
They will not be a state for long if nobody helps them and they cannot defend their nation by themselves.
That is just a fact.
You can whine all day that they are a sovereign nation because of this agreement or that but at the end of the day, a piece of paper doesn't do anything to ensure your Statehood.
originally posted by: Senators
originally posted by: daaskapital
originally posted by: Senators
You need to quit using academia for defining what a state is.
It really doesn't matter what the definition in Webster's Dictionary says.
What defines a state is a group of people who are strong enough to stick their flag in the ground and defend it.
That is qualifies you as a state, nothing else is relevant. Jumping up in the air and waving a silly piece of paper around does not afford you Statehood.
Academia is better than going off your personal opinion...
It is not personal opinion, it is a fact.
Nations that cannot defend themselves, either politically or militarily, will fall.
That is what happens.
Palestine cannot do either because of their inept leadership and unwillingness to unite as a people and fight for their nation. Instead, their plan is to create mass casualties among their populace and play the sympathy card but the problem is that nobody actually likes the Palestinians, even their Arab neighbors cannot stand them.
originally posted by: Ceeker63
I agree that Palestine is a sovereign country. However, Israel has been attacked from within Palestine. Hamas is causing all the grief from within Palestine. So I would think that Hamas has gotten the go ahead from Palestine to launch those rockets into Israel. Or Hamas decided on their own they would launch the rockets without Palestine approval. Hamas is using humans as shields. Which is the most cowardly thing a militant organization can do.
So what is Israel suppose to do? Just sit there and get shelled? No they have to defend themselves.