Israel’s Netanyahu says Palestinian statehood bid at UN will fail

JERUSALEM (BNO NEWS) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday said that the Palestinian bid to become a member state of the United Nations (UN) will fail.

Netanyahu said during a cabinet meeting that the Palestinian’s attempt to become a permanent UN member will fail because it must go through the UN Security Council. “I am convinced that the activity of the U.S., which is deeply cooperating with us, as well as the activity of other governments with which we are also cooperating, will result in the failure of this attempt,” he said.

The Palestinians are scheduled to submit their request to the UN Security Council on September 23. However, the United States – one of the permanent members – has said it will veto any Palestinian bid to seek a full United Nations membership.

Netanyahu added that the Palestinians can also decide to turn to the UN General Assembly “in which almost any decision can be passed.” “But it has neither the same weight nor the same importance. This is not the Palestinians’ avowed goal,” the premier said.

This week, Netanyahu will meet with U.S. President Barack Obama and other world leaders and afterwards he will address the UN General Assembly. He decided last week to address the assembly next Friday when the Palestinians will submit their bid.

“The UN is not a place where Israel wins praise, but I think that it is important that I go there in order to represent both the State of Israel and the truth – and the truth is that Israel wants peace and the truth is that the Palestinians are doing everything to torpedo direct peace negotiations,” Netanyahu said.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has said he is ready to restart the peace talks after he gets the UN recognition of the Palestinian state. The peace negotiations have been stalled since last year when Israel refused to extend a moratorium on settlement building in the occupied Palestinian territory.

Palestine has demanded a stop to settlement construction in the disputed East Jerusalem and West Bank area as a key element for continuing peace talks, aimed at reaching a two-state solution based on the 1967 Green Line. However, Israeli authorities have rejected the Palestinian solution based on the 1967 borders as that measure would leave a large population of Israelis in Judea and Samaria outside Israel’s borders.

About 120 out of 193 countries have currently recognized the State of Palestine and those are seen as possible supporters if the UN votes on the issue. If the UN Security Council resolution to recognize Palestine is approved, Palestine would become the 194th member of the United Nations.