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Sidestepping Peace Talks, Palestinians Launch New Statehood Bids

Palestinians Sidestep Peacetalks Apply to UNESCO as Member State

Photo from UNESCO

Last month, the Palestinian Authority asked the UN Security Council for recognition as an independent state. With no decision yet made, President Mahmoud Abbas is now applying to more world bodies for full membership, as he sidesteps peace negotiations with Israel.

The latest move: an application for membership to UNESCO, the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Last Wednesday, the Palestinians cleared their first hurdle as UNESCO’s executive board agreed to allow a vote on their request.

The Palestinians are also trying to enter the World Trade Organization and last week succeeded in obtaining partnership status in the Council of Europe, the continent’s leading human rights body.

The Palestinians presently hold observer status at UNESCO. Full membership could have wider implications and serve ongoing Arab efforts to delegitimize Jewish claims to ancestral and biblical holy sites in Judea and Samaria (West Bank) and East Jerusalem.

Monday, Reuters quoted the Palestinian minister in charge of antiquities and culture, Hamdan Taha, saying if accepted, the Palestinian Authority will seek UNESCO World Heritage recognition for Bethlehem where the Church of the Nativity sits, Hebron, Nablus and other West Bank sites.

Opposing the move are Israel and the U.S. which is threatening to cut off funds to the UN agency. By law, the U.S. cannot fund a UN organization that grants full membership to a group “that does not have the internationally recognized attributes of statehood.” The U.S. contributes 22% of the agency’s budget – more than $80 million per year.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is determined to cut funding if UNESCO grants full Palestinian membership:

“Feeling that their efforts at the UN Security Council will fail, the Palestinian leadership is shopping around the UN system for recognition. This attempt to rig the process needs to be stopped dead in its tracks. Our contributions are our strongest leverage at the UN, and should be used to stand up for our interests and allies and stop this dangerous Palestinian scheme.”

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says it’s “inexplicable” that UNESCO would consider moving ahead on Palestinian membership while the statehood bid is still before the UN Security Council (which the U.S. also opposes), adding she:

“would urge the governing body of UNESCO to think again before proceeding with that vote because the decision about status must be made in the United Nations and not in auxiliary groups that are subsidiary to the United Nations.”

Palestinian envoy to the UN, Riyad Mansour, told the New York Times, “We need the issue of the state of Palestine to be resolved in the U.N. system,” adding UNESCO “is one place where we can acquire our rightful place among the community of nations as a full member.”

Even without full Palestinian membership, UNESCO has demonstrated a repeated willingness to rubber-stamp questionable Palestinian ownership claims over key historical and religious sites.

The Israeli website Ynet published a special report in July titled “UNESCO Against the Jews,” stating the “UN’s cultural body seems to be engaged in inquisition-like campaign against Israel.” It detailed multiple anti-Israel and anti-Jewish UNESCO rulings including:

*calling on Israel to cease all archaeological work in the Old City of Jerusalem.

*designating Jerusalem in 2009 as “capital of Arab culture,” protesting what they described as “the Israeli occupation of Holy Jerusalem.”

*last year labeling Rachel’s Tomb near Bethlehem and the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron as “Muslim mosques,” with no explanation that Rachel’s Tomb is the burial site of the wife of Jacob, biblical patriarch of the Jewish people.

*organizing a symposium on Jerusalem in 1996 at UNESCO’s Paris headquarters with no Jewish or Israeli groups invited.

*It also found a UNESCO document that bizarrely referred to the Middle Ages rabbi revered as one of the greatest Jewish philosophers as Muslim:

“…[in] a recent UNESCO report on science Jewish physician and theologian Maimonides is classified as a Muslim named “Moussa ben Maimoun.” So the Rambam – for Rabbi Moshe Ben Maimon – has been forced to “convert” to Islam by the UN’s revisionist historians.”

Jonathan Tobin detailed the wider implications in Commentary Magazine:

…If the Palestinians are given full membership in UNESCO, we can expect them to use it to advance their historical revisionist campaign in which Arab vandalism on the Temple Mount is ignored while efforts to uncover Jewish artifacts are branded illegal. As is the case with their entire UN gambit, this effort will be portrayed as an attempt to defend the Palestinians, but its true purpose will be the denial of Jewish rights.

Earlier this year, more than 120,000 signed an on-line petition protesting UNESCO’s ruling that Israel has no right to add the Tomb of the Patriarchs and Rachel’s Tomb to its National Heritage list. The Patriarch’s Tomb is the oldest Jewish shrine and the second holiest site in Judaism where the patriarchs – Abraham, Isaac, Jacob — and their wives are buried.

The petition, sponsored by the pro-Israel group “To Protect Our Heritage PAC” explains:

In an effort to erase Jewish history and supersede Jewish religious sites with Islamic institutions, Muslims have intentionally built mosques upon numerous synagogues and Jewish holy sites. The clearest examples are the Al-Aqsa mosque which sits on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount, and the Dome of the Rock, which was built on Judaism’s holiest site of the two biblical Jewish Temples.

…In cooperating with efforts to erase Jewish historical ties to Israel, UNESCO is aiding and abetting those who hope to and obfuscate Israel’s Jewish past and undermine Israel’s Jewish future.

Palestinians Sidestep Peacetalks Apply to UNESCO as Member State

As a member of UNESCO – the agency overseeing education, science and culture – the Palestinian Authority might presumably feel an increased responsibility to protect cultural sites in territories in controls. But on precisely the day the UN agency took up the membership bid, back home, vandals desecrated a key Jewish holy site. Jewish worshippers arriving for pre-Yom Kippur prayer services were stunned to find swastikas and anti-Jewish graffiti spray-painted on the walls of Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus, the biblical city Shechem.

It’s not the first time the site has been subject to vandalism. In 2000, Palestinians stormed the compound and devastated the site, using pickaxes and setting it on fire.

Forty members of UNESCO’s board voted in favor of moving the Palestinian membership bid to a full vote, 14 abstained and only four countries opposed: the U.S., Germany, Latvia and Romania.

The full vote later this month is open to all 193 UN member states, including countries not usually associated with promoting democratic education and culture such as Iran, Libya, and Sudan. One example of the disconnect between the agency’s mission and its members: Afghanistan under the Taliban dynamited one of the region’s most precious cultural sites, the 6th century monumental Buddhas of Bamiyan.

Taking into account the large Muslim state voting bloc, the Palestinian bid is almost certain to pass. Like in so many other instances at the UN, again the U.S. and Israel will find themselves staking out the minority position in an organization for which the U.S. is the largest funder.

Comments (28)

  • Arshloch
    Posted on October 11, 2011 at 2:44pm

    The Philistiens already have a state; the state of insanity.

    Report Post » Arshloch  
  • Elena2010
    Posted on October 11, 2011 at 1:15pm

    Why DO the nations rage?

    Israel and observant, not cultural, Christians remind the world that there is a real God and actions count.

    Report Post » Elena2010  
  • TemayElbor
    Posted on October 11, 2011 at 5:26am

    It feels like we are closer to ARMAGEDDON…as prophesied in the Scriptures.

    Israel is the first to feel those “birth pangs”…then the rest of the world …..until the JEWISH KING, OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, APPEARS.

    AND THE KINGDOMS OF THIS WORLD SHALL BECOME THE KINGDOM OF OUR LORD….IT IS WRITTEN, IT IS.DONE.

    Report Post »  
    • PIGSWILLNEVERFLY
      Posted on October 11, 2011 at 8:46am

      I stand with you and John Hagee…..I AM AN ISRAELI !! My heart, and mind and prayers are with Israel..God’s gave this land to Israel FOREVER and God WILLS this to BE.

      Everyone interested in the global goverment plans of UNESCO should read “AMERICA’S SCHOOLS The Battleground for FREEDOM!!! Both Goals 2000 and No Child Left Behind were based on the international agreements known as the World Declaration on Education for All, 1990, and the DAKAR FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION, 2000. President Bush, Sr. and President Clinton committed the US to implementing these INTERNATIONAL agreements, we would have reason to be surprised ONLY IF the federal education laws had NOT followed the International accords. The interational agreements on education are based on the Marxist worlview of Antonio Gramsci, not the worldview of the FREE West. Everything being done to ISRAEL is also being done to the US (it is just more covert) GOD BLESS ISRAEL AND THE UNITED STATES – WE ARE UNDER ASSAULT FROM WITHIN – DO NOT LET THIS EVIL WIN!!

      Report Post » PIGSWILLNEVERFLY  
  • carbonyes
    Posted on October 11, 2011 at 12:02am

    The Palestinians are pretty much playing all the cards they hold and some that they don’t, meaning there are more than 52 cards in their deck. There are definitely others in the UN, who really do not mind if the Palestinians have a duplicate card in their hand, as they too are of the same mindset that “whatever is fair in love and war” applies, meaning lie, cheat, steal and kill is fair game. Seems like I read somewhere in the Bible that there was another character that habitually practices those tactics, one of his monikers being, Ole Slew Foot. Needless to say, he‘s quite active on the world’s stage and doing his damnedest to intrude into our lives in these latter days, for his time is indeed running out. Important to stay several steps in front of him and keep your armor on.

    Keep exposing the hapless Palestinians for who and what they are. Unfortunately they are being used and abused by the rest of the the Islamic world and their sympathizers. be ready when you can to pull those out of the fire of destruction who show signs of seeing the Light.

    In the mean time it is critically important to continue to stand behind Israel and to dump the Imposter-in-Chief in 2012. God speed, keep the Faith, stay on course and don’t be deceived. We win in the end!

    Report Post »  
  • NOBALONEY
    Posted on October 10, 2011 at 11:35pm

    Secretary Clinton knows full well that Abbas is seeking special status. Clinton is on the same page as President Obama, and the State Department.

    Report Post » NOBALONEY  
  • carbonyes
    Posted on October 10, 2011 at 11:30pm

    Ohio Rifleman. Good point of slogging it through our membership in the UN and maintaining our “power” position. As costly monetarily as it has been, it our membership still gives us a certain amount of hegemony over what is actually accomplished there, or in many cases, prohibited by our position on the Security Council.

    Might not be a bad idea to properly assess what kind of funding we are going to provide.

    Report Post »  
  • carbonyes
    Posted on October 10, 2011 at 11:17pm

    @OHIORIFLEMAN. The women get the shaft, I guess. Pun intended.

    Report Post »  
  • vennoye
    Posted on October 10, 2011 at 9:05pm

    Reading my Bible these days reminds me of the Early Edition (TV Series 1996–2000) (He gets tomorrow’s newspaper today. He doesn’t know how. He doesn’t know why. … Early Edition (TV Series 1996–2000)

    Report Post » vennoye  
    • OhioRifleman
      Posted on October 10, 2011 at 9:13pm

      I used to watch that show, it was kinda cool. Wonder if it is available on DVD or reruns.

      Report Post » OhioRifleman  
    • Chr1st14n
      Posted on October 10, 2011 at 9:50pm

      happens to me everyday, i read stuff then watch the news and see what i just read; it gets to be fun the more you do it

      Report Post » Chr1st14n  
    • mwhaley
      Posted on October 10, 2011 at 10:03pm

      Those that understand Bible prophecy, Matthew, John, Paul, Isaiah, Zachariah, Malachi, Daniel, Amos and all the other prophet’s writings are coming to life. We understand the phrase “as in the days of Noah”. The Bible is more alive than ever before.

      Report Post »  
    • Chr1st14n
      Posted on October 10, 2011 at 10:35pm

      thats because it comes alive to the ones it was written for ;]

      we in our generations are spending the same amount of time in the word as other generations but because the purpose it was written was not for other generations but for ours, we get 10x more out of it because we see the events it described beforehand for us to see.

      all began with 1948/1967 when Israel regained its status as a nation with Jerusalem. Jesus said a key phrase in Luke 21 when we see Israel’s return that come to pass, we can see and know for a surety that the generation who saw that will not pass away as a whole until every prophecy pertaining to the end times is fulfilled.

      http://vimeo.com/channels/237572

      Report Post » Chr1st14n  
  • B. David Bates
    Posted on October 10, 2011 at 8:38pm

    I know that it is not politically correct, but maybe someone should park a truck bomb next to the mosques on the temple mount and tell the Moslems if they complain, then Mecca and Medina might be next. And they better count themselves lucky that it is not done on Friday! Just a thought…not that anyone should really do it, but that would be real justice.
    Everyone pussyfoots around these terrorists like they are demigods. Remember, these are the PLO pieces of porkine feces that hijacked planes, killed the Israeli Olympic team in 1972, and just generally made donkeys of themselves since BEFORE there was an Israel. Again, I say, send the whole mess of them to their virgins as early as possible.

    Report Post »  
  • Falsegods
    Posted on October 10, 2011 at 8:35pm

    This is just another example of
    pushy
    aggressive Arabs
    trying to take what isn’t theirs.
    PLO go settle in a Muslim country,
    you gypsies.
    No, your real goal is to take over the world.

    Time to push you back .

    Report Post »  
    • kraphtsman
      Posted on October 10, 2011 at 10:12pm

      The U.S. needs to defund the U.N. if ANY of its corrupt organizations vote to “bypass” the established rules, and formally recognize “Palestine” as a “state”.

      The PA is NOT a legitimate government, nor is it worthy of statehood. Until and unless the “Palestinian” people recognize Israel’s right to exist AS A JEWISH COUNTRY, then Palestine has no right to formally “exist”, either !

      Report Post »  
  • Carol in MA
    Posted on October 10, 2011 at 8:27pm

    I think the UN should be moved to Iran…..let them live under sharia law.

    Report Post » Carol in MA  
  • OhioRifleman
    Posted on October 10, 2011 at 8:12pm

    Palestine: Doing the work of Hitler, 70 years ex post facto.

    Unsurprising. Times get tough, the Jews are always the first up on the chopping block as scapegoats. Then the rich, then the Christians, then the…

    Report Post » OhioRifleman  
  • hazmat_factor
    Posted on October 10, 2011 at 8:06pm

    Another reason to:

    Get the U.S. out of the U.N.
    and
    the U.N. out of the U.S.

    Report Post » hazmat_factor  
    • OhioRifleman
      Posted on October 10, 2011 at 8:20pm

      Slight problem with your theory: if we kick them out, they run roughshod over the whole world without us being able to check their one-world-government, eugenicist, socialist, omnicidal ambitions. Then they come for us, and as good as we are, we’re not set up to do battle with the whole industrialized world.

      Report Post » OhioRifleman  
    • ZengaPA65
      Posted on October 10, 2011 at 8:21pm

      Exactly

      Report Post » ZengaPA65  
    • Stoic one
      Posted on October 10, 2011 at 8:57pm

      OHIORIFLEMAN
      how long do you think the UN would last if EVERY LAST PENNY were to be cut off that came from the USA?
      I do not know. This is a serious question.

      Report Post » Stoic one  
    • OhioRifleman
      Posted on October 10, 2011 at 9:12pm

      @ Stoic

      If they were smart, and I see no evidence to assume they are not, they can survive through a financial hit from losing our funding. It reduces their financial power, but they retain their obnoxiousness and they gain a reason to use the rest of the world as a bludgeon against us.

      The UN is just as pernicious as ACORN; they get funding from all manner of cesspools and the loss of one sugar daddy, while painful, is by no means crippling.

      Report Post » OhioRifleman  
    • Scaredfuzz
      Posted on October 10, 2011 at 9:33pm

      I personally hate the U.N. but we could sabotage them from within.

      A) Reduce our yearly donation to $1 just to maintain membership.

      B) Veto everything the U.N. tries to do, since the Charter gives us that veto power we can effectively check and stonewall everything the U.N. tries to do.

      By leaving the U.N. we surrender a huge card the we could play to cripple the U.N.

      Report Post » Scaredfuzz  

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