Issue Brief posted November 28, 2012 by The Heritage Foundation
Palestinian Statehood: The Latest Research and Analysis
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…
Issue Brief posted November 21, 2012 by James Phillips
Gaza Crisis: U.S. Should Press Egypt to Rein in Hamas
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…
Issue Brief posted September 28, 2012 by Brett D. Schaefer, James Phillips
The U.S. Must Oppose the Palestinian Statehood Effort at the U.N.
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…
Issue Brief posted April 4, 2012 by Brett D. Schaefer
ICC Prosecutor Makes Right Call on Palestinian Declaration, but Grave Concerns Remain
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…
Issue Brief posted February 16, 2012 by Brett D. Schaefer
Do Not Reward UNESCO for Granting the Palestine Authority Membership
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…
Backgrounder posted December 13, 2011 by Brett D. Schaefer
What Palestinian Membership Means for UNESCO and the Rest of the United Nations
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,…
WebMemo posted September 26, 2011 by Baker Spring, Michaela Dodge
Israel and the Iron Dome System: A Lesson for the United States
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…
Testimony posted September 14, 2011 by James Phillips
Promoting Peace? Reexamining U.S. Aid to the Palestinian Authority, Part II
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…
Backgrounder posted July 6, 2011 by Brett D. Schaefer, James Phillips
How the U.S. Should Respond to the U.N. Vote for Palestinian Statehood
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…