Friday 16 September 2011

Palestinian Options at U.N. Lead to Legal Threat to Israel's Military Article Comments more in Middle East » Email Print Save ↓ More smaller Larger By JOE LAURIA UNITED NATIONS—If the Palestinian Authority succeeds in winning even an incremental upgrade of its status at the U.N, it could subject Israel's military to international courts for actions in Palestinian territory—as well as allow Palestinian control of its Israeli-patrolled air space and national waters off Gaza. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said Friday he would seek full U.N. membership through the Security Council. If the U.S. vetoes that effort, as it has vowed to do, the Palestinians have a second option for membership: go to the General Assembly. Francis Boyle, a legal adviser to Mr. Abbas, told The Wall Street Journal that he has advised the Palestinian president to take this step, which is made possible through a resolution, known as Uniting for Peace, that was introduced by the U.S. in 1950 to circumvent repeated Soviet vetoes of Security Council measures to help South Korea battle the North. To succeed, the Palestinians would have to convince two-thirds of the voting Assembly that Palestinian membership would be a response to an existing "threat to peace, breach of the peace or an act of aggression" from Israel. The U.S. and Israel say a U.N. vote would itself threaten peace. More U.N. Assembly Looming, U.S. Fails to Sway Palestinians The Palestinians have a third option: Seek an upgrade from permanent-observer mission to a nonmember, permanent observer state in the Assembly. That route has fewer roadblocks, since no country holds a veto in the Assembly, and diplomats say the Palestinians have more than the required 97-vote simple majority. Such an upgrade could be more than symbolic, potentially altering the political equation between the Palestinians and Israel. As an observer state, Palestine could participate in Assembly debates, but couldn't vote, sponsor resolutions or field candidates for Assembly committees. But it could accede to treaties and join specialized U.N. agencies, such as the International Civil Aviation Organization, the Law of the Sea Treaty, and the International Criminal Court, officials said. Switzerland joined the ICAO in 1947 when it was still an observer state before becoming a U.N. member in 2002. Denis Changnon, an ICAO spokesman, said the treaty gives members full sovereign rights over air space, a contentious issue with Israel, which currently controls the air space above the West Bank and Gaza. The Palestinians could bring claims of violation of its air space to the International Court of Justice. If the Palestinians accede to the Law of the Sea Treaty, they would gain legal control of national waters off Gaza—where they are currently under an Israeli naval blockade. Under the treaty, the Palestinians could challenge the blockade at the International Court of Justice. They could also claim rights to an offshore natural-gas field now claimed by Israel. Even more troubling for Israel and the U.S. would be Palestinian membership in the International Criminal Court. Ambassador Christian Wenaweser, president of the ICC Assembly of State Parties, said in an interview that a Palestinian observer state could join the ICC and ask the court to investigate any alleged war crimes and other charges against Israel committed on Palestinian territory after July 2002. including Israel's 2008-09 assault on the Gaza Strip. —Joe Lauria Write to Joe Lauria at newseditor@wsj.com Join the discussion Be the first to comment More In Middle East » inShare Email Print Order Reprints Journal Community Add a Comment We welcome your thoughtful comments. Please comply with our Community rules. All comments will display your real name. Want to participate in the discussion? Register for Free Or log in or become a subscriber now for complete Journal access. Track replies to my comment Go to Comments tab Clear Post Login with Facebook Share articles and post your comments on Facebook What's this? Available to WSJ.com Subscribers Solyndra Denied Troubles in Spring U.S. Arsenal Needs Expensive Face-Lift SEC Widens CDO Probe Securities regulators are stepping up their probe into mortgage-bond deals at the heart of the financial crisis, including by pushing for a settlement of more than $200 million with Citigroup. Banks Take More Risk in Lending Most Popular Video Ritzy European Villas Plummet in Price 4:58 NASA Finds 'Star Wars' Planet With 2 Suns 4:22 Mossberg Reviews the New Sony Tablet S 6:23 Most Popular In Asia Read Emailed Video Commented 1. UBS: Rogue Trader Hit Firm 2. A New Addition 3. Europe Lending Woes Deepen 4. UBS's Gem in Asia 5. Najib Opens Door for Reforms Most Read Articles Feed Editors' Picks [OB-PR342_starwa_C_20110916105849.jpg] 'Star Wars' Blu-Ray: An Early Look Today, Lucasfilm and Fox Home Entertainment released "Star Wars: The Complete Saga" on Blu-ray, offering fans of the series an opportunity both to celebrate and complain. [COVER_JUMP2] Europe on Sale The debt crisis has one silver lining: falling prices for vacation homes in Greece, Spain, Portugal and even Italy. Vacation Homes for Less Ritzy Villas Plummet in Price [360BUY] China Retailer Eyes $5 Billion IPO A Chinese company that few Americans have heard of is gearing up for what could be the largest Internet IPO in U.S. history. Companies Navigate Toward IPOs [OB-PM127_Palin__C_20110905145556.jpg] Sarah Palin Biography 'The Rogue' Draws Early Fire From Critics A new book about Sarah Palin is being both slammed and celebrated by critics for its incendiary allegations about Palin's personal and political life. [SMOKE1] New York Smoking Rate Hits a Low The number of adult New York smokers has fallen to 14% of the population amid tax increases that boosted the cost of a pack of cigarettes to more than $11 and an aggressive anti-smoking campaign led by Mayor Michael Bloomberg. [REM.LOMMAsub] A Giant of Miniature Golf's Goofy Greens Ralph J. Lomma, who died at 87, manufactured thousands of miniature golf courses as founder and proprietor of Lomma Enterprises. [palling] Food for Art The relationship between food and art stretches back to the earliest of times, but the owners of two-star Michelin restaurant Pied à Terre have taken the concept a step further by appointing an artist-in-residence.

1 comment: