Sweden Recognizes Palestinian Statehood: Liberation Remains A Distant Dream
13 September 2014
By Stephen Lendman
On October 3, Haaretz headlined "Sweden to become
first major European country to recognize state of
Palestine." It's the first EU country to officially do
so.
In parliament on Friday, Sweden's newly-formed
center-left Prime Minister, Stefan Lofven, announced
his intention to recognize what's long overdue. What
all nations worldwide should follow.
"The conflict between Israel can only be solved with a
two-state solution, negotiated in accordance with
international law," said Lofven.
"(T)he two-state solution requires mutual recognition
and a will to peaceful co-existence. Sweden will
therefore recognize the state of Palestine."
Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Hungary,
Ireland, Malta, Poland, Romania and Slovakia upgraded
Palestine to full embassy status earlier.
State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki called Sweden's
decision "premature." She cited the need to resolve
final status issues.
In September 1993, Mahmoud Abbas sold out in Oslo. He
and others with him did so disgracefully. They agreed
to be Israeli enforcers.
Palestinians got nothing in return for renouncing
armed struggle, recognizing Israel's right to exist,
and agreeing to leave major unresolved issues for
later final status talks.
They're still waiting. Militarized occupation
harshness continues. Peace remains a convenient
illusion.
It's the greatest hoax in modern times. So is hoping
Israel one day will recognize Palestinian
self-determination. It goes all-out to prevent it.
On Friday, Haaretz said Britain's parliament intends
voting up or down on recognizing Palestinian
self-determination. It'll do so when it returns from
recess on October 13.
At issue is public anger over Israel's genocidal
Operation Protective Edge. Conservative minister
Baroness Warsi resigned in protest.
He declared his Bradford West district an
"Israeli-free zone." Its products, academics and
tourists aren't welcome, he said.
Labor party leaders said they support Palestinian
self-determination. It remains to be seen how many MPs
overall go along.
Through September 2013, 134 nations recognized
Palestinian statehood. They include Brazil, Egypt,
China, India, Russia, South Africa, Turkey, and
virtually all other regional countries except Israel.
On November 29, 2013, General Assembly members voted
138 to 9 with 41 abstentions in favor of granting
Palestine non-member observer state status.
At the time, Israel responded as expected. Its UN
envoy Ron Prosor rejected what world nations endorsed
overwhelmingly, saying:
"Because this resolution is so one-sided, it doesn't
advance peace. It pushes it backwards."
"There's only one route to Palestinian statehood and
that route does not run through this chamber in New
York. (It) runs through direct negotiations between
Jerusalem and Ramallah…"
Doing so denies Palestinian self-determination. It
continues militarized occupation harshness.
Ruthless persecution. Premeditated wars at Israel's
discretion, and high crimes against peace amounting to
genocide.
Maintaining intolerable status quo conditions is
longstanding Israeli policy. Rogue states operate this
way.
America and Israel are the world's most ruthless. Most
contemptuous of fundamental human rights. Most
belligerent. Most dangerous. Most lawless.
Palestine already exists. On November 14, 1988, the
Palestinian National Council (PNC) adopted Law
Professor Francis Boyle's Memorandum.
It "proclaims the existence of the new independent
state of Palestine." It explained characteristics
needed for world community recognition. They include:
a fixed population;
a functioning government; in 1988, Arafat declared the
PLO Palestine's Provisional Government; and
the capacity to enter into relations with other
states; most world nations recognize Palestine; expect
others to follow like Sweden.
Washington provisionally recognized Palestinian
statehood earlier. According to UN Charter Article
80(1), it can't reverse its position by vetoing a
Security Council resolution calling for its UN
admission.
Doing so is illegal. It's subject to further SC action
under the Charter's Chapter VI. Expect no
follow-through to enforce it.
SC members only recommend admissions. General Assembly
ones alone decide. Affirming new states requires a
two-thirds majority.
Doing so can include appropriate measures to end
Israel's illegal occupation.
Palestine's Declaration of Independence is
"determinative, definitive, and irreversible," said
Boyle.
It recognizes the General Assembly's 1947 Partition
Plan in good faith. It rejects terrorism in all forms.
Abbas can get Palestinian statehood virtually any time
he wishes. Why not he'll have to explain.
He's a longtime Israeli collaborator. He sold out
decades ago. He did so for special benefits he
derives. He's nearing retirement. He'll do nothing to
spoil things now.
His General Assembly address was typical Abbas.
Meaningless. Disingenuous. Without substantive
content.
He talks the talk. Walking it isn't his long suit. His
call for ending Israel's occupation is polar opposite
what he supported for decades.
He lied claiming high-mindedness now. He did so
knowing Washington's veto is certain.
Nothing on the ground will change without Palestinian
self-determination. He blocked it earlier. It's easily
gotten.
Palestinians can override Washington's SC veto. It can
petition General Assembly members through the 1950
Uniting for Peace Resolution 377.
Doing so renders America's veto null and void.
Palestinian self-determination can become reality. Why
not, Abbas and other PLO collaborators must explain.
They go through the motions of seeking Palestinian
statehood. Plus full UN Member State status. With
meaningful rights that matter. Rhetoric substitutes
for action.
Palestine remains occupation. Universally recognized
statehood remains a distant dream.
Getting it requires responsible leadership. It's
sorely lacking in Ramallah. Palestinians deserve
better.
It's high time they demanded their rights. Doing so
begins with replacing quisling governance with
legitimate parliamentarians representing them.
Maybe some day. Not now. Not any time soon. Liberation
remains a distant dream.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached
at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. His new book as
editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in
Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III." http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html
Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com. Listen
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