Iceland‘s Parliament Becomes First in the West to Recognize ’Sovereign’ Palestinian State
- Posted on November 30, 2011 at 11:44am by
Billy Hallowell
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This one may not go over too well with the Obama administration.
The Iceland Review is reporting that Alþingi, Iceland’s parliament, approved a resolution yesterday that would recognize an “independent and sovereign State of Palestine.”
Even more interesting than the actual resolution is the fact that the recognition focuses upon Palestine as it stood before the 1967 Six Day War (it should be noted that Obama has, in the past, also called for a return to these borders). Oddly, the resolution was taken up with no objections, as 38 votes were cast in favor of it; 13 lawmakers abstained.
Alþingi also took the opportunity to encourage the Israelis and Palestinians to seek a peace agreement that is predicated upon international law. Additionally, the resolution’s wording asks both parties to stop all violent acts and to come together and respect human life. According to the Review, the text of the resolution reads:
“Alþingi resolves to entrust the government to recognize Palestine as an independent and sovereign state within the pre-1967 Six Day War borders.
Also, Alþingi urges Israelis and Palestinians to reconcile through the means of peace agreements on the basis of international law and resolutions of the United Nations, including the mutual recognition of the State of Israel and the State of Palestine.
Alþingi reaffirms that the PLO, the Palestine Liberation Organization, is the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people and also recalls the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their former homes in accordance with resolutions reaffirmed by the United Nations.
Alþingi demands that the conflicting parties in the Arab-Israeli Conflict cease warfare and acts of violence forthwith and respect human rights and humanitarian law.”
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)
Commentary’s Evelyn Gordon writes, “…the parliament of Iceland…on Tuesday became the first Western parliament to officially call for Israel’s eradication.”
While these are certainly strong words, some of the language in the resolution does, indeed, seem to call for a scaled-back version of Israel. Gordon continues:
…the resolution declared that it isn’t enough for the Palestinians to have one state; they ought to have two: one in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, and another in pre-1967 Israel, which would be converted from a Jewish-majority to a Palestinian-majority state by flooding it with some five million descendants of the 1948 refugees.
That, after all, is how Palestinians interpret the “right of return,” and having accepted the Palestinian position on every other issue – from where the border should lie to whether or not peace with Israel must precede statehood –there’s no reason to think the resolution didn’t intend to adopt the Palestinian position on this issue as well. Indeed, that’s the literal meaning of the phrase “return to their former homes”; diplomats seeking to square the circle of the Palestinian demand for a “right of return” and the Israeli insistence on not committing national suicide usually use some variant like “a right of return to the Palestinian state.”
The Blaze covered this very issue back in October, as we exposed what a return to pre-1967 borders would look like:
…Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas asked the Security Council to recognize a Palestinian state based on the 1947 UN Partition Plan – an area much larger than that designated by the 1967 borders – stripping Israel of its only major international airport and its entire capital, Jerusalem. The 1967 borders had until now been the publicly stated demand of the Palestinians and their supporters in Europe and the United States, even as Israel has held 1967 lines leave the country nine miles wide and thus indefensible.
In addition to the obvious issues associated with amending borders, there are some differences between the parliament‘s and President Barack Obama’s views on international interference in the matter. In a speech before the U.N. General Assembly in September, Obama uttered some words that seem to contradict Iceland’s parliament on the matter of solving the Middle Eastern crisis.
“Peace will not come through statements and resolutions at the U.N. – if it were that easy, it would have been accomplished by now,” Obama said. “Ultimately, it is Israelis and Palestinians who must live side by side. Ultimately, it is Israelis and Palestinians – not us – who must reach agreement on the issues that divide them.”
The Alþingi resolution, though, seems to hinge on U.N. resolutions and international law — the very elements the president claims cannot solve the issues at hand.
Regardless of what happens next, Iceland has distinguished itself as having the first Western parliament to endorse an official Palestinian state. That being said, the recognition, Haaretz reports, will likely amount to nothing more than a “symbolic step.”
(H/T: Iceland Review)
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Comments (94)
moreteaplease
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 1:13pmIceland? Oh, isn’t that a theme park or something?
BTW: I can’t imagine why this would upset the Obama gang. I would of thought it would make them all giddy as school girls.
Report Post »smackdown33
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 2:08pmIceland leading the world in a moral cause. Go figure. God does act in a mysterious way.
Report Post »wzanesdad
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 3:24pmwell…..after all, it is Iceland….the same country that is forming it’s new constitution via facebook…hahahahahahahahah
Report Post »cyclops
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 2:47amNow would they still be looked upon by Palestine as “the infidels?“ Where is ”Acmed and Walter” when you need them to argue?…………………..LOL!!!!!!
Report Post »chazman
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 7:24am… Let’s plant the new Palestinian State right in the middle of this morally and financially corrupt little country called Iceland where it belongs …
Report Post »REPUB1
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 1:06pmFACT Iceland is green and Greenland is ICE
Report Post »mrsalvage2
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 1:05pmIceland did what the people were trying to do to survive at Shayes Rebellion, telling the fraudulent creditors to take a hike.
I don’t know what Glenn is reading about Shayes, but what they were facing then will soon be what we are facing here.
Wikipedia is pretty precise, without having a dog in the fight at that time. They have no authority to protect or defend. This was far from redistribution of Wealth in light of the fact that many who fought in the Revolution were conscripts (that is the nice word for randomly seized SLAVES!).
Washington got Baptized in the War, and the Surrender Sword of Cornwallis hangs in a little Baptist Chapel, but the fact is that he went wrong at Shayes and with the Whiskey Tax. Absolute power did corrupt absoultely in the end as far as I can see.
Iceland made the first decision correctly. America did not.
Iceland made the seccond decision about being on G-D’s side incorrectly. America did not. America begrudingly adopted the Bill of Rights. It was such an afterthought as the pwoer of the day said they would hold to the Common Law and Magna Carta. Yeah! RIGHT! Then we see Shayes.
In the Baptist perspecitve, Mass. got what was coming to her for killing, laying waste to property, torturing, and exiling Baptists after the Plymouth Colony was dismantled.
Haiti voted for the creation of Israel. They are in a full blown unreported Spiritual Revolution since the Earthquake.
Iceland has now doomed themselves.
America
Report Post »NoRoomForSocialismHere
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 2:37pmG-D is a give away, you are a Jew.
America has not obligation to Israel and American is NOT Judeo-Christian. That little twist started in about 1947.
Israel has the right to the 1967 borders and more likely the borders it had thousands of years ago.
Palistine has never been a nation or had a place on the face of the earth other than wonder in the desert all of their natural lives. They should have what they have send them to home to Arabia or the desert
GOD BLESS AMERICA if he can stomach it anymore
TEA
Report Post »J_Ruben_Kincaid
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 1:04pmIceland should offer up a portion of their island as the palestinian homeland.
Report Post »mrsalvage2
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 1:20pmYes the Volcanic Parts!
France needs to partition as well and establish the Paristinian State. No wait! Germany and England are the islamic States of Europe and beat them to it.
Hm
There are three things……drats!
Report Post »don young
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 12:52pmAll socialist,comunist think alike any questions about obama.
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 12:48pmstupid is as stupid does. we should pass a resolution declaring their country unfit for human existance and give it to wild life. after all why would a country mind it’s own business
Report Post »Joshua7
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 12:46pm-_-
U.S. out of the U.N.
Report Post »U.N. out of the U.S.
Joshua7
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 12:47pmI stand with Israel!
Report Post »Free2speakRN
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 12:42pmAlþingi, All of you involved, before the change, take your families and most loved ones to live in Israel’s 1967 borders for the next five years. If you are still alive, surviving the nuclear fall-out, take another vote. If you think this decision of yours will bring peace, you are out of your heads. You think Iceland is cold, ‘now’?! Wait until you can’t see the sun for about 3 to 5 years…along with the rest of us.
Report Post »TEARS FOR AMERICA
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 12:36pmHeh, Iceland, what about the rights of the Israeli’s? How is it that you get in bed with terrorists? How is it that our POTUS sides with Iceland on this one- pre-1967 borders? Ad nauseum.
Report Post »mrsalvage2
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 12:29pmThey went in the Right direction with their Constitution and telling the Banks to shove it.
Now they are finished.
Report Post »jdog777
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 12:28pmThere are a lot of firsts in Iceland…. they are also the first to be a scourge on the Euro. Just saying….
Report Post »jdog777
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 12:25pmIceland…
Population 320,000
GDP 12.67 Billion USD
Iceland telling Israel how to draw up her borders and how to govern her sovereign nation…. PRICELESS.
Report Post »smackdown33
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 12:38pmIsrael…
Population: 7,798,600
GDP: $235.446 billion
Israel telling America what its policies are?
Report Post »jdog777
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 12:47pmwhen did this happen???? This is all news to me. Last time I checked…. US has been treating Israel like crap. Did Israel draw a border in the US?? What a minute… this is just more nonsense spewing out of your hole.
Report Post »smackdown33
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 1:30pmJDog, those are American F-15′s, F-16′s and F-18′s bombing the Palestinians. It was American intelligence provided to Israel and America weaponry which made Operation Opera possible. It is American lives and wealth that is being spent on the war with Iraq for Israel: http://www.haaretz.com/news/features/white-man-s-burden-1.14110
Goes on and on, but if your one who denies that the sun is hot, no facts will ever be enough.
Report Post »jdog777
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 6:09pmSmack… you didn’t make a case. Israel buys American weapons does not equip to Israel telling America what to do. I guess… you could go in and look at all the weapons used by Palestinians and blame those countries for the problems in the middle east. What it comes down to is Israel is a LEGAL and SOVEREIGN Nation State with established borders that ORIGINALLY included Syria. The formation of Syria is the Palestinian State compromise. The Mistake Israel made was opening its borders (A mistake we will soon learn here in the US) to people who want to kill them. The “palestinians” are no more indigenous to Israel as Mexicans are to the USA. Iceland declaring a Border through Israel is laughable at best, but surely goes to show ignorant the politicians in Iceland really are.
Report Post »ares338
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 12:24pmIceland huh? I’ll bet their main products are ice and fish. Hmmm…..they are really qualified to opine on this topic I guess.
Report Post »nannyatnannydotgov
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 12:16pmProof that freezing temperatures slow brain activity.
Report Post »Lordchamp
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 12:15pmSo rhey want Israel and Palastine to come to peace as long as Israel places itself in position of not being to defend itself from attack and makes all the concessions. I understand now.
International law? What about SOVERIGN law for the legally established State of Israel?
I hate all this globalist crap. They will be some of the first to come begging for help when they are being overrun after the crap hits the fan. I say reap what you sow.
Report Post »FEISTY
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 12:15pmThe US should pass a resolution to no longer recognize Iceland as a country, and just call it arctic wasteland.
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 12:08pmLet’s give Iceland to the Sand Rats.. They can peacefully coexist on that Island Country with one of the highest CO2 outputs on the planet. Plus we can keep an eye on their comings and goings.
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 12:35pmgreat idea
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 12:05pm“This one may not go over too well with the Obama administration.”
REALLY???? This seems to be EXACTLY what the administration wants.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 2:34pmMy thoughts exactly. You can bet Obama would do the same. If he didn’t need Jewish money and support to be re elected, he would do it in a New York minute. When he is re elected…watch out Israel.
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 12:02pmIf global warming was fact, then Iceland would disappear. And the Palestinians would welcome them to *their land* with open arms. Ha.
Report Post »Alfred F. Jones
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 12:38pmYou’re thinking of Greenland. Iceland is a gigantic volcano formed by the Atlantic and European plates. That being said, they should just bundle themselves up, sell themselves back to the Kingdom of Denmark. Maybe then some of Europe’s troublesome Muslims will immigrate to Iceland and they will get a taste of that culture. Oh wait, Denmark’s immigration laws are insanely tough. Okay bundle themselves up and sell themselves to Norway. There we go. Perfect. After all the Norwegians were the ones to settle that plot of volcanic rock.
Report Post »NickDeringer
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 12:00pmYipes!
Report Post »JLGunner
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 12:04pmIceland who?
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 12:06pmIt is next to Greenland, or it was green when named. global warming turned it white.
Report Post »Sibyl
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 12:00pmNo responsible, ethical international entity will recognize a Palestine that is aligned to Hamas – which has in its charter the obliteration of Israel and the genocide of all Jews.
Iceland has just revealed its support for terror and genocide…and its alignment with Palestine, Iran, Syria, N Korea, Russia and China.
Report Post »Sibyl
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 12:03pmPS – The institutionalized genocide and hatred stated in writing in Hamas’ charter is – a DIRECT QUOTE from the Koran and the Hadiths of Islam – which need to be unequivocally renounced (in writing) by any foreign state which the US has diplomatic relations or that belongs to the UN.
Report Post »Sibyl
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 12:05pmThe US should respond by giving Iceland notice – then if they do not recant this affirmation of Palestine – remove our embassy and send their people back home until they do.
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 12:08pmAND cut off American taxpayer dollars.
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 12:25pmNo, it’s leaders did. I urge you to look at the composition of the heads of government in Iceland, in fact in doing so you may come away thinking “ah, now I see why”. The masculine soul of the vikings died a long time ago across Scandinavia and Danish territories (former and current).
Report Post »jdog777
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 11:56amWonderful…. another country trying to draw the borders of another sovereign nation. If Palestine wants parts of Israel… they need to do it by force or through a democratic process outlined in the country’s laws… OR leave to go back where they came from…. Syria. The US is only 50 years from the UN or other nations trying to draw borders through it, specifically in the south west. Iceland is a failed State that pillaged it’s citizens to insolvency. They have zero credibility as a government and Icelanders are fools to allow them to speak on their behalf.
Report Post »swimmer1940
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 11:56amIceland depends on its rather large tourist industry. Stay home from there, and off their planes.
Report Post »LadyLibertykicksASS
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 11:54amGreat…..Iceland ???? What are you Idiots thinking.?? Must have been a boring day….Let’s add a little more fuel on the fire, The World is ready to explode anyway… sooooo… what do you say, ” Let’s throw a match on the Israel / Palestinian conflict, that will liven things up. ” . I hope your volcano explodes…just to “liven up your day.” Mind Your Own Business.
Report Post »smackdown33
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 11:48amYou can only hide evil for so long. America is on the wrong side of morality in its support of the Zionist State.
Report Post »AvengerK
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 11:53amand where’s the morality in Palestinian and Islamist terrorism?
Report Post »J_Ruben_Kincaid
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 11:53amGive us an example of this “evil”?
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 11:58amOh, bless your little heart…..
Report Post »JLGunner
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 11:59amDefine Zionist. Throughout time who doesn’t get labeled with this title? Palestine is a hub of terror.
Report Post »Yama
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 12:00pmOh, if only Hitler had finished the job on the Jews, right Smackdown33? Those pesky Jews, seeking to live peacefully, incessantly attacked by their hate-mongering neighbors and degraded in the UN by Jew haters from around the globe, they are such a problem!! Your prejudice and racism make me sick.
Report Post »lylejk
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 12:01pmThe only people that I see bombing people including schools where kindergardeners got too are the palestinians. Looks like you are the evil one Smack since you back a truly evil regime. :)
Report Post »jdog777
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 12:06pmWell… there is only one Morality. That is God’s eternal law. What does He say about the State of Israel?? Let‘s say you are a Humanist Atheist that does not believe in God’s Law…. What does a majority of the Humans that occupy Earth say about the State of Israel? You see… either way…. you are wrong. If you are the dude who says morality is subjective…. Then your morality is just as meaningless as anybody else. So, in short…. stop trying to push your pathetic version of morality on the rest of humanity. Israel is the only shining light and hope for a free society in the middle east.
Report Post »barnsy
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 12:17pmImmoral?Evil.?..LOL.These words are the very definition of the cult of Islam ( I wont dignify it as a real religion). They have no respect for woman,freedom,or human rights. You so called “tolerant” idiots will be the first to be persicuted or killed if they ever gain power. Wake up, get off your lazy ass and study their history.
Report Post »Lordchamp
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 12:20pmAnd your PROOF of this is what? Oh just spouting talking points and have no proof, only opinions. I understand now.
Report Post »smackdown33
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 12:31pmJLGunner, permit the more qualified to answer your question, and define Zionist.
http://www.jewsagainstzionism.com/
Report Post »smackdown33
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 12:39pmJ_Ruben_Kincaid, I have given you an answer, but like so many postings critical of Israel, they will not post it.
Report Post »smackdown33
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 12:41pmAvengerK, I have provided an answer to you, but like so many postings critical of Israel, they will not post it.
Report Post »J_Ruben_Kincaid
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 1:00pmSmackdown has a big bag of nothing. No proof, not even a short corraborating statement, nothing. Typical of those who hate the Jews. Ironically, he could walk safely in the Jewish parts of Israel. In the palentian parts, those animals would cut your throat before you took 10 steps.
Report Post »And you know it!
smackdown33
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 1:36pmJ_Ruben_Kincaid, perhaps you missed my statement. I offered proof. The owners of this blog do not want, will not permit, that proof to be presented. They do not trust your analysis and maturity to draw your own conclusions regarding the facts. They feel that they need to protect you from the truth, or, they fear that truth, because it proves their conclusions false.
Report Post »smackdown33
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 1:44pmThe terrorist groups Irgun, Stern Gang and Haganah were evil. The bombing of the King David Hotel was evil, so evil that it held the record for most civilians killed in a terrorist attack, for decades.
Report Post »smackdown33
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 1:47pmThe Sergeants Affair was evil. Look up Mervyn Paice and Clifford Martin. Their treatment was no different than that given to the American workers hung from the bridge in Iraq.
Report Post »JLGunner
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 2:57pmSmack to fix this should all white people go back to Europe, Does Florida go to the French or Spanish, Does texas go back to Mexico? Jeeez, should we go back to the roman empire. Damn the invaders!
Report Post »tzion
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 4:55pm@Smackdown
Stern Gang: Responsible for numerous terrorist attacks and assassinations= Very Evil
Irgun: Responsible for numerous attacks against British military facilities=Evil
Hagganah: Assisted in illegal admission of refugees from Europe and defense from Arab attacks=Rebel group but not evil
Now you can criticize these groups as much as you want but they all share one thing in common; Israel, not yet existing, cannot be held accountable for their actions. When Israel became a state these groups ceased to exist. When the PLO was placed in charge of the Palestinians, Hamas remained active, Islamic Jihad, Black September (which had direct ties to the PLO), etc. Maybe we should blame the current government of South Carolina for the treatment of slaves.
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