Israel and US punish Palestinians for UN bid

Submitted by Matthew on 9 November, 2011 - 11:31

The Palestinian bid for recognition of an independent state at the United Nations will hit the headlines again soon, when the UN Security Council publishes an initial report on the application.

Already Israel and the US are punishing the Palestinians for their campaign.

Following the overwhelming vote at Unesco, to admit Palestine as a full member, the US cut off all funding to the organisation, removing more than a fifth of its budget. If the Palestinians seek membership of other UN bodies – for instance the International Atomic Energy Agency – this issue could become even bigger.

The US has also temporarily frozen its funding for the Palestinian Authority.

Meanwhile Israel has announced plans to accelerate the building of 2,000 housing units for Jewish settlers in the Occupied Territories, and has suspended the transfer of the tax and customs revenue it collects on behalf of the PA. Together with the US funding freeze, this is potentially disastrous for the PA.

So while the Palestinian campaign is putting their opponents under massive pressure, the results so far are also harming them.

On the other hand, what is this oppressed nation, cut off from every avenue of liberation, supposed to do?

The Palestinian struggle demands the support of all socialists, and all democrats; the response from Israel and the US demands condemnation.

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