Middle East Peace Talks Stall as Palestinians Seek Statehood at the UN

Strategic Insights -

The United States is planning to dispatch its top officials to the Middle East as the Palestinians announced their plan to seek international recognition for a state at the UN. The move, which could lead to a clash with the Obama administration, comes as peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians have been stalled for several months. The Palestinians had previously stated that they would seek UN recognition in the absence of a peace agreement, but their intention to take the issue to the UN Security Council could provoke a veto from the US.

Key Takeaways:

  • The US State Department has confirmed that David Hale, the special envoy for Middle East peace, and Dennis Ross of the National Security Council, will return to the region to help facilitate the Quartet's statement on a set of principles.
  • The Palestinian Authority plans to seek international recognition for a state at the UN, with Mohammed Shtayyeh, a Palestine Liberation Organization official, stating that they will ask for full membership in the borders of 1967.
  • The move could lead to a veto from the Obama administration, which has pledged to oppose the Palestinian bid and has warned them that it could lead to a reduction in American aid.
  • Recent discussions with the European Union and the Mideast Quartet have yielded no serious proposal for the resumption of talks, with Shtayyeh stating that peace talks have been stalled for several months.
  • The move comes in the wake of a formal reconciliation between the two largest Palestinian factions, Fatah and Hamas, which has been met with opposition from Israel and the US due to Hamas' designation as a terrorist organization.

Statistics:

  • The Palestinians have stated that they will seek international recognition for a state in the borders of 1967.
  • The US has pledged to veto the Palestinian bid in the UN Security Council.
  • The Palestinians had previously stated that they would seek UNESCO recognition, but now intend to take the issue to the UN Security Council.
  • The Quartet's statement on a set of principles has yet to be finalized.
  • Peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians have been stalled for several months.

Sources:

  • "Byline: the CNN Wire Staff (CNN)..."
  • "U.S. State Department spokesman Victoria Nuland told reporters Monday..."
  • "Richard Serry, the United Nations' special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, issued a statement..."