The U.N. General Assembly is expected to vote today on a proposal to elevate the status of the Palestinian Authority. The PA is currently a permanent-observer “entity.” It is seeking to become a permanent-observer “non-member state.” Last year, the Obama administration blocked the PA’s bid for full U.N. membership by threatening to use the U.S.’s Security Council veto,…
As expected, the United Nations General Assembly voted (138–9, with 41 abstentions) to upgrade the status of the Palestinian Authority from an observer entity to a non-member state observer this afternoon. Because individual governments are not required to comply with General Assembly resolutions, this vote is largely symbolic in terms of how governments regard…
At some point, Hamas and Israel will have had so many armed confrontations that they’ll have to stop naming the operations and just give them numbers. But don’t think these future conflicts will be indistinguishable from what’s happened so far. At some point, these flare-ups could get worse—a lot worse. Serious Standoff So far the duels between the…
On Thursday, November 29, the United Nations General Assembly is expected to vote on elevating the U.N. status of the Palestinian Authority (PA) from permanent observer “entity” to “non-member state” permanent observer. Last year, the Obama Administration blocked the PA’s bid for full U.N. membership by threatening to use its Security Council veto and asserting that…
Director James Carafano discusses the logistics of the Israel-Hamas cease-fire and where Hamas has obtained their missiles on Fox 5 News.…
Although the current Gaza crisis is in many ways reminiscent of the last flare-up in December 2008–January 2009, there are important differences this time around. Hamas’s terrorist reach now includes Israel’s heartland cities of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv due to long-range Iranian rockets. However, Israel’s new Iron Dome missile defense system has mitigated this threat. The…
Senior Fellow Peter Brookes discusses the latest on the Israel-Hamas conflict on Hannity.…
The Palestinians have announced their intent to use the United Nations once again to bolster their claims of statehood. Last year, the Obama Administration blocked their bid for full U.N. membership by threatening to use its Security Council veto. Now the Palestinians are seeking “non-member state” permanent observer status, which does not require Security Council…
In an effort to bring international pressure on Israel, the Palestinian Authority declared in 2009 that it would submit to the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes committed in its territory. Three years later, the ICC prosecutor concluded that he does not have the authority under the Rome Statute to initiate an investigation because…
FYI: Heritage WebMemos are now called Issue Briefs. Late last year, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) granted membership to the Palestinian Authority—despite opposition from the U.S. and with forewarning that such a step would lead the U.S. to suspend funding to UNESCO. After the vote, the Obama Administration condemned…
My name is James Phillips, and I am the Senior Research Fellow for Middle Eastern Affairs at The Heritage Foundation. The views I express in this testimony are my own and should not be construed as representing any official position of The Heritage Foundation. Since the signing of the 1993 Oslo peace accords, the U.S. has showered over $4 billion in bilateral aid…
Since Israel deployed its new Iron Dome artillery and rocket interceptor system in April, it successfully used it to shoot down Hamas Grad rockets. The Israeli experience with Iron Dome shows that the criterion of cost effectiveness for missile defenses has been defined too narrowly in the United States. More to the Story The missile defense…
Abstract: In September 2011, the Palestinian Authority requested membership for “Palestine” in the United Nations—violating its commitment under the 1993 Oslo Accords to seek statehood through negotiations with Israel. Prospective U.N. member states must first receive a recommendation from the Security Council. The Obama Administration has vowed to veto, if necessary,…
The effectiveness of the Administration’s “new era of engagement”[1] to build goodwill toward the U.S. at the U.N. based upon mutual respect and cooperation will be tested this week when Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas formally requests U.N. membership for the Palestinian delegation. Despite intense U.S. diplomatic efforts, the Palestinian delegation…
Abstract: In September 2011, the U.N. General Assembly is expected to vote on a resolution recognizing Palestinian statehood. This resolution is linked to Palestinian efforts to obtain U.N. membership as a state and to delegitimize Israel. These efforts will have no legal significance because the General Assembly has no standing to recognize statehood—that is the right of…
Palestinians are getting ready to divert the international spotlight away from the “Arab Spring” and focus it on their efforts to gain international recognition for a Palestinian state. Palestinian activists have called for a popular uprising against Israel on May 15. The two strongest Palestinian factions, Hamas and Fatah, signed a unity agreement to bolster the campaign…
Under President Obama’s leadership, U.S. influence among Middle East nations has waned, and in fact declined since...…
After several days of rocket salvos launched at Israeli civilians, Israel responded yesterday with air strikes that...…
Libya. Egypt. Syria. Iran. Russia. China. America’s relations with the world aren’t looking too good. President Obama...…
In an interview with 60 Minutes on Sunday, President Obama referred to the problematic relations with Middle Eastern...…
President Obama spoke to the United Nations General Assembly in New York yesterday - and what a disappointing speech it...…
The breaking news keeps breaking when it comes to revelations surrounding the attacks and protests aimed at U.S....…
Four years of President Obama's foreign policy are having their full effect. After squandering time in sham...…
The much-heralded United Nations conference to negotiate the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) launched with a media and...…
As expected, “Palestine” succeeded in gaining membership in the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural...…
The 39-story United Nations headquarters stands on the banks of the East River in Manhattan. But now the U.N. is...…