APN: U.S. Must Not Cut off Nose to Spite its Own Face at the UN

American Jewish peace group applauds UNESCO decision to grant Palestine full status in UNESCO.

Photo: APN

(WASHINGTON D.C.) - Today members of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) voted to grant the PLO full status in that organization, with 107 nations voting in favor, only 14 nations voting “no,” and another 52 abstaining. APN President and CEO Debra DeLee issued the following statement about the vote:

“The decision by UNESCO members to vote overwhelmingly to admit the Palestinians – despite the strong opposition of both the U.S. and Israel and the threat of U.S. sanctions against UNESCO – sends a clear message: the international community is no longer willing to sit on its hands and do the bidding of the United States so long as the “peace process” drags on, bereft of substance and with continued Israeli settlement policies altering the situation on the ground in ways that will soon make this two-state solution impossible.

“This vote must be a wake-up call to Israel, the Obama Administration, and the United States Congress. The status quo – in which Israel continues to pursue policies that are anathema to the two-state solution and in which the Obama Administration is unable or unwilling to exercise convincing leadership to restore credibility to its peace policy – will lead only to further isolation and marginalization of both Israel and the United States in the international community. Likewise, legislation that mandates a cut-off of U.S. funding to any UN agencies that admit the Palestinians – starting now with UNESCO but in all likelihood extending soon to other agencies like the IAEA and WIPO – will lead only to the reckless and pointless sacrificing of vital U.S. interests across every sector and around the globe.

“APN urges the Obama Administration and Congress to alter the U.S. approach to the issue of the status of the Palestinians at the United Nations. What is needed today is flexibility, not dogmatism. Existing legislation regarding the U.N. and the Palestinians must be amended to include sufficient flexibility to protect U.S. national security interests. These interests include keeping Israel secure and achieving, ultimately, a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“APN continues to call on the Obama Administration and Congress to recognize that what is needed to today isn’t more threats and sanctions, but a renewed determination to achieve Israeli-Palestinian peace. Only such a determination can break the current diplomatic impasse and the resulting cycle of diplomatic crises. Only such a determination can move the focus of action, and the investment of energies, away from the United Nations back to the negotiating table, where they belong.

“The UNESCO vote is a clear achievement for President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad. Notwithstanding their current refusal to return to negotiations without a settlement freeze, their commitment to non-violence – coupled with their continued rhetorical commitment to the two-state solution and extraordinary state-building efforts of the past two years – have convinced the international community of the sincerity of Palestinian efforts and the legitimacy of their aspirations.”

For further background on APN’s postion regarding the Palestinians at the UN, read 'About APN' below, or see their publication: APN Principles on the Palestinians, International Recognition & the UN

About APN

The Israeli Peace Now movement, Shalom Achshav, was established in 1978, when 348 Israeli senior reserve army officers and combat soldiers came together to urge their government to sign a peace treaty with Egypt. They knew then what remains true today – real security for Israel can be achieved only through peace. In the years since its establishment Shalom Achshav has worked for the achievement of peace agreements between Israel and all her Arab neighbors, and has come to be recognized, both in Israel and abroad, as Israel’s leading grassroots, Zionist movement. Best known for mobilizing mass demonstrations, for many years Shalom Achshav has also been the only group conducting comprehensive monitoring of Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank (and the Gaza Strip, until Israel’s 2004 evacuation of Gaza settlements). Shalom Achshav is widely cited in the Israeli and international media as the foremost authority on settlements.

Americans for Peace Now (APN) (APN) was established in 1981 to mobilize support for the Israeli peace movement, Shalom Achshav (Peace Now), and has since developed into the most prominent American Jewish, Zionist organization working to achieve a comprehensive political settlement to the Arab-Israeli conflict.

We are the leading voice of American Jews who support Israel and know that only peace will ensure Israel’s security, prosperity and continued viability as a Jewish, democratic state. Positions advocated for more than two decades by APN and Shalom Achshav – like calling for the evacuation of settlements and the creation of a viable Palestinian state – are now recognized by most American Jews and Israelis as basic requirements both for peace and for a secure future for Israel.

APN is a non-partisan organization with a non-partisan mission. We supply timely information and education, providing a pro-Israel, pro-peace, American Jewish perspective on issues and legislation. APN also engages in grassroots political activism and outreach to the American Jewish and Arab American communities, opinion leaders, university students and the public at large. We further promote our agenda through press releases, editorials and personal contacts with journalists, serving as a respected source of balanced information, analysis, and commentary.

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