Congressman Berman’s Last Gasp At Punishing Palestinians

At first glance, the only thing surprising about the Congressional letter demanding that the Palestinians be punished for taking their case to the United Nations is that AIPAC’s role in producing it is stated openly. The cover letter to House members asking for their signatures (from a staffer working for House Foreign Affairs Committee chair, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen) reads as follows:

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.

Occupied Palestinian Oil & Gas Reserves

Israel wargames' reason to raid and clear the way ...
with support from USofA

TO FREE PALESTINE, Palestenians must control the urge to respond to Israel attacks
SUPPORT the Palestine's bid to upgrade at the United Nations.   

Palestine: China special role in the Middle East

Palestinian envoy seeks 'special role' for China

 AFP news agency reports that Bassam al-Salhi, a representative of Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas, at talks in Beijing on efforts to upgrade his people's status at the United Nations and maintain calm in the region, said China can play a "special role" in the Middle East.

Q&A: Palestinian bid for upgraded UN status

President Abbas received a standing ovation when
he delivered his application to the UN last September

The Palestinians are to ask the United Nations to upgrade their status to become a "non-member observer state" by the end of 2012. 

It follows a failed bid to join the international body as a full member state in 2011 because of a lack of support in the UN Security Council.

Here is a guide to what is likely to happen and its significance. 

Ceasefire for now, what about next elections?

Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas takes effect 
 Israel, Hamas ceasefire starts at 6am AEDT (22Nov'12)

Russia accuses U.S. of blocking U.N. action on Israel-Gaza conflict

"Council diplomats, who did not want to be identified, said the United States' UN delegation had been instructed by Washington not to engage in consultations on a statement by the Security Council"

Russia accused the United States on Monday of blocking a bid by the U.N. Security Council to condemn the escalating conflict between Israel and the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and said other council members were filibustering the issue.

Fatah and Hamas unite over Gaza

RIVAL Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas say they have agreed to end their infighting in a show of solidarity over the spiralling Gaza crisis.