UNITED NATIONS, November 15 (Itar-Tass) — The crisis in Gaza will not harm the Palestinians’ self-determination aspiration and obtaining the state status in the UN system, Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin expressed this view on Wednesday.
“I think this will not harm (the Palestinians’ aspiration). Even on the contrary,” he said, answering question from Russian journalists.
Palestine’s Permanent Observer to the United Nations Riyad Mansour said for his part that by its military operation in the Gaza Strip Israel “is trying to divert attention from the Palestinian efforts for self-determination.” “This will not disrupt our efforts to achieve the observer state status at the world organisation,” he pointed out.
In late November, the UN General Assembly will consider the issue of granting Palestine the observer state status at the United Nations, instead of “a non-state entity,” as it is listed in the official documents at present. In late November, the UN General Assembly will consider the issue of granting Palestine the observer state status at the United Nations
The draft resolution of the UN General Assembly, which was distributed among the UN member countries last week states that “at present 132 Member States of the United Nations have recognised Palestine as a state.” The draft resolution, a copy of which has received by Itar-Tass, proposes to grant Palestine “the observer state status in the UN system without limiting the rights, privileges and role played by the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) as the representative of the Palestinian people.”
Israel and many other countries do not recognise the existence of an independent Palestinian state, and take the position that the establishment of this state can only be determined through direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian national Authority (PNA). The main issues currently obstructing an agreement are borders, security, water rights, the status of Jerusalem and freedom of access to religious sites, ongoing Israeli settlement expansion, and legalities concerning Palestinian refugees including the right of return.
In the event of success, the Palestinians will be able to appeal in the international arena to the fact that they live in a state that is occupied by Israel. This essentially means that Palestine will be able to turn to the International Court, demanding through it the liberation of its territories.
In 2011, the Palestinian National Authority applied for recognition of Palestine as a full-fledged member of the UN. The document was supported by the majority of the 193 UN member states in the General Assembly, but has not been approved by the UN Security Council. The voting in the UN Security Council, which has the final say on such matters, was blocked by the United States.