Weakened influence of USA, strengthened recognition of Palestine

[allhatnocattle.livejournal.com]

Read this...
http://arabnews.com/opinion/columns/article528952.ece?service=print

Ok, so there are 14 UN agencies which the USA doesn't have veto power. By law USA must withdraw all funding of every agency/organization that recognizes "terrorist" organizations like the Palestine Liberation (PLO). American withdraw of funding leaves these UN agencies weakened but not powerless. And it further legitimises Palestine's claim of independence through international recognition. And Israel without a moral leg to stand on.

With much of the Arab world currently in transitional stages (which may not be all that different from previous regimes) one might add Palestine to that list too. Although Palestine has been in political limbo for a few decades, this situation seems closer to being, well, not exactly resolved, but closer to a position that could effect social, economical and political change. Heck it might even be able to lead Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, etc towards free and open democracy. Far fetched but possible. The PLO has become a democratic party after all.

Ideas that Gwynne Dyer didn't explore are possibility of USA attempting to further strong arm the UN. Or completely weakening it through complete withdraw and booting them out of NYC (hello Hague!)

Another thing would be Israel drawing Palestine into war. This could be through direct attacks but more likely through proxy war(s) possibly with Iran.

Iran remains a threat, maybe even a nuclear threat. Israel has some (weak) justification to attack Iran. A war on that front could make Israel look vulnerable. The temptation to lob a few bombs over the wall by some Palestinians might prove to much.

I find this all very interesting. I'd like to know what you think of it. What's the USA's next move? What is Israel's? How does this all play out? How long?

Comments

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

Israel has a long-term future as a democracy but no longer a Jewish state, or as a totalitarian state and a Jewish state. Democratically the Arabs in Israel proper, excluding Palestine are outnumbering Jews in the Jewish state, so Israel's going to have to choose between democracy or staying a Jewish state. If optimists are right and Israel really is a Real-True Democracy, then the choice will be obvious. Israel will stay the state of Israel but recognize the rights of Arabs in Israel, not randomly beat up Arab members of the Knesset and discriminate against Arab citizens of Israel with theoretically equal rights. In fact, that demographic time bomb will alter Israel such that it will reverse its policies in the West Bank the better to form a supra-ethnic Palestinian state.

[telemann.livejournal.com]

Very cool, just when you posted this I was Handel's Ye men of Gaza hither bring (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sONR9yw4j4) from Samson

[telemann.livejournal.com]

watching/listening/relishing ;) should have been.

[the-rukh.livejournal.com]

It was just too good for you to it.

[telemann.livejournal.com]

;p

[pastorlenny.livejournal.com]

Those damn Jews. You'd have thought we'd have found a sure-fire way of getting rid of them by now.

[paedraggaidin.livejournal.com]

I know man. But don't worry...just because 90% of the UN hates Jews, must mean Jews are evil and Israel is evil and that must mean that Hamas and Hezbollah are good.

Keep up the good fight, boys! Just a few more mass killings of of innocent civilians legitimate military targets and those damned greedy usurious bloodthirsty Jews will give you back your mythological "homeland" rightful territory! And everyone will be free and happy and well-fed when Hamas gets elected! Hooray!

[htpcl.livejournal.com]

The problem with terrorists is that the more of them you violently blow up, the more new ones get recruited. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

[oslo.livejournal.com]

Practically speaking, the "next move" for the USA is just the next step in this progression - the status quo. Israel continues to push into the West Bank, to strangle the Palestinian economy, to launch reprisals in response to every Palestinian attack (maybe with the occasional purge), and to delay, delay, delay. All the USA needs to do is veto a few UN Security Council measures (as long as it continues to be a member, anyway). The Palestinian conflict doesn't bother us none.

I'd like to see the US issue an ultimatum to Israel - resolve this or we're out. No more financial support, no more unerring support at the UN. Israel wants its cake and wants to eat it, too, and we need to tell them, no, that's not how it works in the real world, at least not one without big Uncle Sam backing up your every inflammatory move. You're going to have to give up something for peace - maybe it's your euphemistically-describe status "Israel as a Jewish state," maybe it's your settlements sprawled halfway into the West Bank (seriously, you should look at a map at how much territory they've already staked out), maybe it's coming to terms with a Palestinian state with the ability to maintain its own economy or protect its own territory.

Not that it's really that simple. While I am skeptical that the nations surrounding Israel are really interested in "pushing the Jews into the sea," so to speak, and I think rhetoric to such an effect is just that - rhetoric - I can't be sure, ultimately. I think if Israel focused on mending its bridges with Turkey, it can gain an important ally in the region. I think careful cultivation of friendly relationships with the new regimes in Iraq and Egypt can help balance the Iran-Syria axis. But it's not like we have a clear plan for proceeding - I guess that's what happens when you plop a state in the middle of a freshly post-colonial, hostile region.

[devil-ad-vocate.livejournal.com]

I've always had trouble with the conservative mindset that the U.S. should "pull out" of the United Nations. I don't comprehend how that jibs with "restoring" U.S. power and influence around the world. How does one exert influence with all the club members... when one doesn't go the club anymore?

[harry-beast.livejournal.com]

Every UN agency the Palestinians apply to for membership represents an opportunity for the United States to lighten the UN burden on American taxpayers. The best move for the United States is to stay the course.