From this article sounds like the UN Vote will take place on Friday September 23rd, 2011 afterall. Hard to know whom to believe. Nevertheless, we don't have long to find out, until Friday. Maranatha! Valerie

"Fair Use for Information & Discussion Purposes"

Haaretz.com

Published 11:33 21.09.11
Latest update 14:27 21.09.11

Thousands rally in Ramallah to back Palestinian statehood bid
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to present formal request to UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Friday.
By Avi Issacharoff, Anshel Pfeffer, DPA and The Associated Press
Tags: Palestinians West Bank Middle East peace Palestinian state



Thousands of Palestinians flocked to Yasser Arafat Square in central Ramallah on Wednesday for a rally in support of the Palestinian bid for full United Nations membership.

The square was dominated by a huge sign with the words "UN 194" on it, in reference to the Palestinian attempt to become the 194th member state of the international body. The sign was flanked by portraits of former Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, and his successor Mahmoud Abbas, who will on Friday formally submit the Palestinian request to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.


Many of the crowd waved large Palestinian flags or carried banners either in support of UN membership, or condemning a likely U.S. veto should the issue come before the Security Council for a vote.

A handful of youth burned an American flag, but were sharply told off by other spectators.

Abbas' Fatah party had called on all its members to attend the rally, and the Palestinian Authority had attempted to boost attendance by closing schools for the day and allowing civil servants to attend during office hours.

Q&A: Haaretz Editor in Chief Aluf Benn on the Palestinian statehood bid.


At the Qalandiya checkpoint north of Jerusalem, dozens of young Palestinians threw stones at IDF forces. The IDF dispersed the stone throwers with the "Scream" device, which releases sound waves.

In Hebron, there were reports of friction between demonstrators and the IDF after Palestinian police lost control of the situation.

In accordance with prior agreements reached between Israel and the PA, demonstrators are not being permitted to approach areas under Israeli control.

The U.S.and Israel oppose the Palestinian bid, arguing that Palestinian statehood should be the result of negotiations. Ordinary Palestinians have expressed concerns about the repercussions of the move; some say they worry about retaliation, such as a tightening of travel restrictions by Israel or a cut in U.S.aid.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also departed for New York on Tuesday, and is set to deliver a speech to the General Assembly on Friday.

The U.S. has pressed Israel not to sanction the Palestinians for their efforts to achieve statehood. On Wednesday, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman denied that he had threatened to break up Netanyahu's coalition if the prime minister did not punish the Palestinians for their statehood aspirations.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/thousands-rally-in-ramallah-to-back-palestinian-statehood-bid-1.385760

"Fair Use for Information & Discussion Purposes"

Published 02:32 22.09.11
Latest update 02:32 22.09.11
Ahead of Palestinians' UN bid, Israel sees risks in East Jerusalem and Gaza
Two variables are causing concern over what may happen when battle at the United Nations reaches its peak: What will happen in East Jerusalem, and what Hamas will do.
By Amos Harel and Avi Issacharoff



The first day of the Palestinian Authority's UN effort went more or less as anticipated. West Bank Palestinians responded rather weakly to the PA's calls for demonstrations to show their support, while at specific points of friction only a few dozen young Palestinians showed up to confront Israel Defense Forces soldiers.

There are still two unknown variables causing concern about what may happen during the next few days, when the battle at the United Nations reaches its peak: What will happen in East Jerusalem (particularly during tomorrow's Friday prayers at the mosques on the Temple Mount), and what Hamas will do. Taken together, they still pose a risk in the near term.

Published 02:32 22.09.11
Latest update 02:32 22.09.11
Ahead of Palestinians' UN bid, Israel sees risks in East Jerusalem and Gaza
Two variables are causing concern over what may happen when battle at the United Nations reaches its peak: What will happen in East Jerusalem, and what Hamas will do.
By Amos Harel and Avi Issacharoff
Tags: Jerusalem Gaza West Bank IDF



The first day of the Palestinian Authority's UN effort went more or less as anticipated. West Bank Palestinians responded rather weakly to the PA's calls for demonstrations to show their support, while at specific points of friction only a few dozen young Palestinians showed up to confront Israel Defense Forces soldiers.

There are still two unknown variables causing concern about what may happen during the next few days, when the battle at the United Nations reaches its peak: What will happen in East Jerusalem (particularly during tomorrow's Friday prayers at the mosques on the Temple Mount), and what Hamas will do. Taken together, they still pose a risk in the near term.

Palestinians gather for a rally in Ramallah to support Mahmoud Abbas' bid for Palestinian statehood at the UN, September 21, 2011.

Photo by: Reuters

In conversations with their Israeli counterparts yesterday, senior Palestinian security officials stressed that yesterday's rallies of support for the PA did not constitute a general strike and were for a few hours only.

"In all our encounters with them, they've been talking to us straight," a senior IDF officer said yesterday. "They are telling us exactly what they're planning. The message has been clear: 'We're in control of the situation. If the demonstrations slide out of control at the fringes, you Israelis will have to deal with it.'"

Yesterday, at least, this happened only at the Qalandiyah checkpoint, north of Jerusalem, and only in a limited fashion. There was a sharp increase in reports of incidents of rock-throwing at Israeli cars on West Bank roads, but there were no confrontations between Palestinians and settlers. For now the battles are focusing on flags: For every Palestinian flag hung by Palestinians near Hawara, at the southern exit of Nablus, the Samaria Regional Council made sure to hang two Israeli flags.

The IDF will continue to monitor what's going on in areas prone to flare-ups such as Hebron, Bethlehem, the Shiloh Valley north of Ramallah and, above all, Jerusalem. Both sides basically understand that right now all incidents are strategic, not tactical. Any local incident, especially a clash between Palestinians and Jewish settlers, has the potential to affect what happens in the UN.

In New York, as of last night the near-certain assessment was that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will ask the Security Council to recognize a Palestinian state rather than settling for the lesser observer status that the General Assembly can grant. This approach turned up the international pressure on Abbas, which is only expected to increase further as the zero hour approached. The Palestinians may be playing for time, if only to ascertain what they might get in return for making concessions.

U.S. President Barack Obama, meanwhile, changed his mind and decided to meet with Abbas, for their first face-to-face talks in months. Their last meeting ended with Abbas refusing Obama's request to drop his UN bid - and then publicly boasting about saying no to Obama. One cannot dismiss the possibility that Obama's pro-Israel speech to the General Assembly last night, which the Netanyahu government was so pleased with, will only harden the Palestinian position.

Like Israel, Hamas is also tensely monitoring the developments. It is sitting on the fence for now, and hasn't called publicly for violence. One major reason for this is that its two new patrons, Turkey and Egypt (as opposed to its veteran sponsors, Iran and Syria ) both support Abbas's move.

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/ahead-of-palestinians-un-bid-israel-sees-risks-in-east-jerusalem-and-gaza-1.385913

Whatever the vote, violence will ensue.

Absolutely David, I agree on that, violence will ensue no matter what the vote.

"Fair Use for Information & Discussion Purposes"

Haartez.com

19:31 20.09.11
Latest update 19:31 20.09.11
Report: UN vote on Palestinian statehood might be delayed for weeks
Sources say a 'silent agreement' exists among Western powers to act to postpone the Security Council vote.
By Shlomo Shamir

The upcoming United Nations votes on a Palestinian state are expected to be postponed to an unspecified date, sources in New York said Tuesday.

Postponements are expected for both the UN General Assembly vote on the declaration of an independent Palestinian state, as well as the UN Security Council vote on full Palestinian membership, the sources said.

While media sources are preoccupied with whether the United States will succeed in its attempts to secure a majority of opposing votes to decline the Palestinians' bid for statehood, sources say a "silent agreement" exists between Western powers to act to postpone the vote at the Security Council.

Published 19:31 20.09.11
Latest update 19:31 20.09.11
Report: UN vote on Palestinian statehood might be delayed for weeks
Sources say a 'silent agreement' exists among Western powers to act to postpone the Security Council vote.
By Shlomo Shamir
Tags: Palestinian state Security UN General Assembly



The upcoming United Nations votes on a Palestinian state are expected to be postponed to an unspecified date, sources in New York said Tuesday.

Postponements are expected for both the UN General Assembly vote on the declaration of an independent Palestinian state, as well as the UN Security Council vote on full Palestinian membership, the sources said.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (R) meets with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the UN headquarters in New York September 19, 2011.

Photo by: Reuters
While media sources are preoccupied with whether the United States will succeed in its attempts to secure a majority of opposing votes to decline the Palestinians' bid for statehood, sources say a "silent agreement" exists between Western powers to act to postpone the vote at the Security Council.

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe hinted at the apparent vote postponement. In an interview with 'Europe 1' radio on Tuesday, Juppe said that "diplomats are still hoping to prevent a crisis. It doesn't appear that a vote (on a declaration of Palestinian independence) will happen this Friday and that is in order to allow time for diplomacy to renew peace talks."

Juppe added that "there's a procedure for dealing with such requests and it can take a few days or weeks more."

Juppe's comments are in accordance with estimates among sources involved with the U.S.-led and western-supported attempts over the past few days to delay the Security Council vote.

If the Palestinian request does go ahead on Friday, the United States can refer the request to a debate inside the framework of informal consultations that Security Council members hold behind closed doors – a procedure that could last weeks or months. The sources reminded that more than a month ago, France distributed a draft resolution that included sanctions against Syria. The draft has not yet reached a discussion because Russia, with the support of China, has been delaying discussions of the draft at the Security Council.

Lebanon holds a senior position as rotating president of the Security Council and the Lebanese ambassador can try to speed up the process of debating the Palestinians' request, but a rotating president cannot decide on the priorities of Security Council discussions.

Sources in New York claim that Abbas is interested in postponing the Security Council vote, for this would give him time for diplomatic bargaining with the United States.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/report-un-vote-on-palestinian-statehood-might-be-delayed-for-weeks-1.385632

Great, this is why I love forums when multiple people are able to contribute and come to some conclusions. I can't wait to see what happens,,,, thanks for the help.

"Fair Use for Information & Discussion Purposes"

Haatez.com

Published 03:14 22.09.11
Latest update 05:21 22.09.11

Obama to Abbas: U.S. will veto Palestinians at UN
U.S. President Obama appeals to Palestinian President Abbas at meeting on sidelines of UN General Assembly; Palestinian envoy says Obama 'reiterated commitment' to Palestinian state during meeting.
By Reuters and Natasha Mozgovaya

U.S. President Barack Obama told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday that UN action would not achieve a Palestinian state and the United States would veto any Security Council move to recognize Palestinian statehood, the White House said.

"We would have to oppose any action at the UN Security Council including, if necessary, vetoing," Ben Rhodes, the White House national security council spokesman, told reporters after Obama met Abbas in New York.

PLO diplomatic envoy to the U.S. Maen Rashid Erekat told Haaretz that the U.S. President "reiterated the commitment of the U.S. to the establishment of the Palestinian state, as part of the two-state solution, and stressed the position of the US that the UN is not the right venue to reach this goal."


"President Abbas explained the Palestinian position - basically it's what we've done in the past few months, each side explained his position," he added.

U.S. President Barack Obama met with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York on Wednesday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

In the meeting, Obama appealed to Abbas not to present UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon with an application for full membership of the world body.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was due to hold separate talks with Abbas and Netanyahu on Wednesday evening.

Obama met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier on Wednesday. Netanyahu thanked Obama for endorsing direct talks with Palestinians and speaking out against any UN bid to declare a Palestinian state.

At a joint press conference following the meeting, Netanyahu said that direct negotiation was the only way to achieve a stable Middle East peace, and that the Palestinian effort to secure UN recognition of statehood "will not succeed

Senior Palestinian negotiator Nabil Shaath also told a press conference on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Wednesday that the Palestinians' statehood bid at the United Nations is the only alternative to violence, stressing that the UN move will give the Palestinians the chance to promote their rights.

Shaath said that the Palestinians plan to give the UN Security Council time to mull its statehood bid, which they are due to submit on Friday, before turning to the UN General Assembly.

Earlier Wednesday, U.S. President Barack Obama delivered a speech at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, urging the Palestinians to renew negotiations with Israel, rather than seek statehood at the UN

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/obama-to-abbas-u-s-will-veto-palestinians-at-un-1.385932

You're welcome Trevor!!! Maranatha! Valerie

"Fair Use for Information & Discussion Purposes"

Haaretz,com
Published 21:57 21.09.11
Latest update 21:57 21.09.11

Senior Palestinian official: UN bid is only alternative to violence

Nabil Shaath says Palestinians to give UN Security Council time to mull their statehood bid before turning to General Assembly.
By Natasha Mozgovaya

Senior Palestinian negotiator Nabil Shaath said Wednesday that the Palestinians' statehood bid at the United Nations is the only alternative to violence, stressing that the UN move will give the Palestinians the chance to promote their rights.

"The UN is the only alternative to violence," Shaath said during a press conference on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly."It will be very costly to us and the Israelis. Our new heroes are Gandhi, Mandela and Martin Luther King."

Shaath also said that the Palestinians plan to give the UN Security Council time to mull its statehood bid, which they are due to submit on Friday, before turning to the UN General Assembly.

Published 21:57 21.09.11
Latest update 21:57 21.09.11
Senior Palestinian official: UN bid is only alternative to violence
Nabil Shaath says Palestinians to give UN Security Council time to mull their statehood bid before turning to General Assembly.
By Natasha Mozgovaya
Tags: Palestinians Palestinian state UN Security Council

Senior Palestinian negotiator Nabil Shaath said Wednesday that the Palestinians' statehood bid at the United Nations is the only alternative to violence, stressing that the UN move will give the Palestinians the chance to promote their rights.

Do you think the Palestinians are right to turn to UN for statehood? Visit Haaretz.com on Facebook and share your views.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas holds his hands to his face as U.S. President Barack Obama speaks during the 66th session of the General Assembly at UN headquarters, Sept. 21, 2011.

Photo by: AP
"The UN is the only alternative to violence," Shaath said during a press conference on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly."It will be very costly to us and the Israelis. Our new heroes are Gandhi, Mandela and Martin Luther King."

Shaath also said that the Palestinians plan to give the UN Security Council time to mull its statehood bid, which they are due to submit on Friday, before turning to the UN General Assembly.

"President [Mahmoud] Abbas doesn't want people to suspect we are not serious by pleading to two committees," Shaath said. "We will give some time to the Security Council to consider first our full membership request before heading to the General Assembly."

Shaath explained that the UN move is part of a non-violent strategy to seek the support of the international community after Israel has not ended the occupation and widened the settlements.

"We are not seeking to join the mafia or al-Qaida, we seek membership of the UN. It will give us the right to promote our rights," he said.

Earlier Wednesday, U.S. President Barack Obama delivered a speech at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, urging the Palestinians to renew negotiations with Israel, rather than seek statehood at the UN

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/senior-palestinian-official-un-bid-is-only-alternative-to-violence-1.385885