UN Recognizes Palestine

A time for celebrating. Please may there be an ongoing peace. There must be many children who think that warfare is part and parcel of normal everyday life.
Butty

There are a lot of jews in the US and many of them have prominence in politics.

America's friendship with Israel goes back years. I don't think Pres. Obama would want to give up on it.

I'm glad to hear that news, butty.

As for Obama, well, it's easy to simplify and condemn. I don't envy him.

It's a start.

Hopefully.

They have said they wouldn't take Israel to the International Criminal Court if they got full membership. But who knows? And that would definitely cause a rumpus.

I spent four months in the US this year and closely followed the news - indeed some fundamentalist Christian groups and Zionists did form an alliance but, as Obama's re-election showed, this alliance failed.

As you say greatnan he had to contend with that lobby but the election is now over and he won!

If this United Nations vote had taken place a week before the election I would understand his reluctance.

'Politics is the art of the possible' and Obama had to contend with the ultra conservative Christian lobby. If he had taken on the Zionists as well they could have formed an unholy alliance against him. Give him time - he isn't having to worry about re-election this term.

Indeed it is.

Good news though - A step in the right direction.

Hague is a member of the Conservative Friends of Israel - we can expect no more from him.

Obama is a coward - he could have taken a lead by abstaining; wouldn't that be revolutionary. His recent re-election proves that the pro-Israel lobby in the US has its limitations. I don't know why we gush over him.

Palestine has been given observer status at the UN but not full membership. Israel and the US will fight any attempt to obtain full membership because that then gives Palestine access to other bodies, most notably the International Criminal Court. Don't hang out the bunting yet.

For the record, Britain abstained from the vote. Wimps.

And Britain abstained. Shame on you, Hague.

Oh, that's just the news we need Butty. I hope they stick with it and actually get somewhere this time.