BICOM

Some 100 Palestinian officials and activists gathered yesterday in Ramallah to officially launch the Palestinian campaign to secure United Nations support for recognition of an independent Palestinian state. The campaign is to be called ‘National Campaign for Palestine: State 194.’ The number reflects the desire that Palestine be admitted to the UN as member state 194. It will consist of a series of events intended to focus media and world attention on the bid for statehood in the build up to 20 September, when Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is set to submit the formal request for membership to the UN. At the ceremony in Ramallah, a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon outlining the Palestinian plans was read out. It was then delivered to Pascal Soto, head of the UN office in Ramallah.

US officials, meanwhile, this week delivered a formal message to Abbas, urging the Palestinians not to proceed with the bid for recognition of statehood at the UN. Abbas rejected the request, while asserting that it does not preclude or contradict efforts to return to negotiations with Israel. Abbas met in Ramallah this week with US Middle East Envoy David Hale, national security adviser for the Middle East Dennis Ross, and US Consul General in Jerusalem David Rubinstein. US officials yesterday made clear that the US would exercise its veto in the Security Council to prevent recognition of a unilaterally declared Palestinian state. However, the US cannot prevent the Palestinians from seeking approval at the General Assembly for the declaration of statehood. While largely symbolic, an endorsement at the General Assembly would constitute a significant political and public relations victory for the Palestinian Authority.

In related news, the leftist US pro-Israel organisation, J-Street has decided to align with the Obama administration’s position on the Palestinian UN bid to oppose the initiative. ‘J Street does not support the Palestinian effort to become a member of the United Nations at this time because we do not believe that, in the current context, it will advance peace, enhance security and improve conditions on the ground,’ the organisation officials wrote in the position paper.