Israel pulls back from threat to topple Palestinian leadership over UN vote

[Poll_Blind]

Source: The Guardian

After weeks of shrill warnings over Thursday's United Nations vote on Palestinian statehood, Israel has backed away from threats to cancel the Oslo peace accords and topple the Palestinian leadership.

Israeli officials are now playing down any immediate sanctions against the Palestinians after it became clear that the request for statehood is likely to gather significant support, which has strengthened since the Israeli assault on Gaza. Several European countries, including France, Switzerland and Spain, will back the Palestinian move in part out of concern that failing to do so will weaken the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, to the advantage of Hamas.

The Israeli foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, previously drew up proposals saying that if the UN vote went ahead "then Israel must exact a heavy price from Abu Mazen (Abbas), including the possibility of toppling his regime and dismantling the Palestinian Authority." Israeli officials warned that funding to the PA could be cut, peace accords cancelled in part or in whole, and unrestricted construction of Jewish settlements authorised.

But the threats have not deterred the Palestinians nor a significant number of European countries from supporting their bid for "observer state" which is on a par with the Vatican's position at the UN.

Officials in Jerusalem are now instead seeking to disparage the vote as of no great significance in itself.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/nov/28/israel-palestinian-statehood-un-vote

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My, my. I wonder what the United States will do?

The vote is Thursday, AFAIK.

PB

[David__77]

1. Dismantling the PA would be good for the Arab people in the territories.

There is no doubt in my mind.

[Ash_F]

2. Indeed instead Arabs should consist of roughly half of the Knesset. /nt

[AnOhioan]

3. That would be the most equitable solution....won't ever happen though.

[Ash_F]

4. History is full of examples of oppressed people finally getting their say.

Anti-Arab bigotry is slowing becoming less and less fashionable among Western powers. Stories like the OP are little cracks in the dam. I think we will see it in the next generation.

[happyslug]

5. So who is the IDF told the Leadership, what else where they going to do to strengthen Hamas?

Any actions in regards to the Oslo accords would be the same as telling the PLO to dissolved, and hand over the West Bank to Hamas. That would be the net affect. Israel does NOT want that, thus they have to do all they can to keep up the image of the PLO in the West Bank. Anyone who actually understands what is happening in the Middle East understands this. The recent action by Egypt in regards to Gaza also reflects that reality.

I hate to say this, if the Israeli leadership was smart, they would come out in support of the Palestine being a UN full state member, under the leadership of Abbas. That would strengthen the PLO and weaken Hamas. Israel has to decide which enemy does it want, the PLO or Hamas. If it is Hamas, then continue what they are doing, if they want the PLO, Israel has to give the PLO something.