After UN Vote, Israel Plans J’lem Housing

Peace Now is calling this a “deal breaker for the two-state solution,” which is a great joke after yesterday’s UN debacle. This is Israel’s reply to the Palestinian Authority’s resolution, and why not? You’d think shredding the 17-year-old Oslo framework might merit some sort of response.

The benefits and risks of Abbas's historic moment

WASHINGTON: The President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, returns to the United Nations to seek an upgrade in status in the 193-member General Assembly to ''observer state'', a move opposed by the US and Israel because of the implied recognition of a Palestinian state. Mr Abbas is scheduled to speak at 3pm Thursday in New York (6am Friday Sydney time), and a vote will take place soon after.

Medics: 1 hurt by Israeli fire near Jabaliya

GAZA CITY (Ma’an) -- Israeli forces opened fire and injured a Palestinian man east of Jabaliya on Thursday, medics said.

Wahid al-Fasis, 20, was shot in the Tal Abu Safayeh area and transferred to Awdeh hospital, medics said.

Gillard's actions speak louder than weasel words

Australia shows little appetite for Palestinian statehood, Peter Rodgers writes


Julia Gillard's shame this week has a lot less to do with the AWU slush fund than her foolishness over the Palestinian Authority. The first is about grubby deal-making. The second is about how our national leader behaves on the world stage.

Palestine Wins Status of State in Vote by U.N. Assembly

UNITED NATIONS — More than 130 countries voted on Thursday to grant Palestine the upgraded status of nonmember observer state in the United Nations, a stinging defeat for Israel and the United States and a boost for President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority, who was weakened by the recent eight days of fighting in Gaza.

Limited Israeli incursion near Khan Younis

GAZA CITY (Ma’an) -- Israeli military vehicles crossed near the al-Qarara town northeast of Khan Younis on Thursday in a new breach of the Gaza ceasefire, a Ma’an reporter said.

U.S. and Israel Look to Limit Impact of U.N. Vote on Palestinian Authority

WASHINGTON — After failing to head off a vote in the United Nations on Thursday that would upgrade the Palestinian Authority’s status, the United States and Israel are looking ahead to how they can contain the damage from the approval of a resolution that even some European allies have signaled they will support.

Hamas Chief Revives Talk of Reuniting With P.L.O.

 BEIRUT, Lebanon — On the eve of the United Nations vote on whether to declare the Palestinian Authority a nonmember state, the leader of Hamas revived a long-percolating proposal for his militant party to join the Palestine Liberation Organization, the group that, with Israel, signed the Oslo Accord, which Hamas has long derided.

Israel Plays Down Importance of U.N. Bid by Palestinians

JERUSALEM — With Western support swelling in favor of a Palestinian bid for enhanced status at the United Nations, Israel engaged in damage control on Wednesday, a day before the vote.

Palestinians say UN bid is last-ditch peace effort

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — A bid for U.N. recognition of a state of Palestine is a last-ditch attempt to rescue troubled Mideast peace efforts, a Palestinian spokeswoman said Wednesday, rejecting Israel's charge that it is an attempt to bypass negotiations.

US makes last-ditch bid to head off Palestinian UN vote

Deputy Secretary of State Burns, Middle East envoy Hale fail to convince Abbas to withdraw request for non-member observer state. Nuland: Resolution will not lead to independent Palestinian state. Lieberman: Move only enhances dispute

Israel warns against Palestinian U.N. bid

7:02PM EST November 28. 2012 - BETHLEHEM, West Bank — Israelis say a Palestinian appeal to the United Nations on Thursday for non-voting membership will make peace less likely, and some Palestinians have reservations, too.

Israel backs away as support for bid firms

JERUSALEM: With Western support swelling in favour of a Palestinian bid for enhanced status at the United Nations, Israel engaged in damage control on Wednesday, a day before the vote.

Upgraded status will do nothing to turn Hamas from genocidal path

It was Oscar Wilde who said ''Illusion is the first of all pleasures'', and it seems so many are basking in the pleasure of the illusion that has been created around the Palestinian Authority's bid for observer state status at the UN.

Effective pressure is essential to broker a solution

The Palestinian Authority is seeking recognition from the United Nations General Assembly for Palestine to be admitted as a non-member state in the UN. There is strong support in the General Assembly for the resolution, with at least 115 member states, representing more than 75 per cent of the world population, expected to vote yes. Sadly, Australia will not be among them.

Gillard reassures Israel of backing despite UN vote

THE Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, has sought to placate an angry Jewish lobby with strong words of support in Parliament for Israel after Australia backed Palestine at the United Nations.

Abbas Arrives In New York, US Slams France For Supporting P.A Bid

Palestinian factions express support to UN bid.

Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, arrived in New York accompanied by several senior Palestinian officials, in order to officially submit the Palestinian application for a non-member state status at the United Nations General Assembly.

Palestinians warn: back UN statehood bid or risk boosting Hamas

Failure to support limited recognition would undermine Abbas and validate armed resistance to Israel for many, officials warn

The Palestinian leadership is warning Europe and the US that failure to support its bid for statehood at the United Nations on Thursday will further strengthen Hamas after the Gaza fighting by suggesting that violence, rather than diplomacy, is the way to win concessions from Israel.