Palestinians open first Western European Embassy: Is this a big deal?

[MMC]

Sweden Officially recognizes the Palestinian Authority and has allowed an Embassy to be established. Will this help or hurt their bid for Statehood? The Swedes think it will help establish them as so. What say ye?



The Palestinian Authority has opened their first embassy in Western Europe in Sweden on Monday. Sweden became the first Western European Union-member state, joining 135 out of 193 countries, who have fully or partially recognized a Palestinian state, according to RT. Until the formal announcement, the Palestinian Authority (PA) operated a General Delegation of Palestine in Sweden, based out of Stockholm.

Under the new agreement, Sweden will commit to raising aid to the PA by $180 million over the next five years. However, Prime Minister Lofven said that the commitment comes with a mandate for the Palestinian Authority to preside over a society controlled by the rule of law. The increased funding will be used to fighting corruption, advancing human rights, and gender equality, according to the Times of Israel. “According to our view, Palestine is from now on a state," Prime Minister Lofven said at the press conference. "Therefore our expectations from Palestine and its leaders are going to grow.”

The Parliaments of Spain, Ireland, Great Britain and France have all voted to recognize Palestine, against the will of the Israelis, according to a separate story from RT....snip~

Palestinians open first Western European Embassy: Is this a big deal?

 

[OrphanSlug]

It is just a step, one of many the Palestinians are going to have to navigate to obtain a level of recognition that Israel is desperately trying to suppress. This sort of action could help their bid for statehood but at the expense of a division among nations going along with this and those opposed. Which is to say the Palestinians have become very adapt at making their conflict with Israel an international issue just as much as Israel has done on their own accord. And as the article points out, that is a two way street as Sweden is demanding action by the Palestinians to ensure this path continues. If the Palestinians live up to their word, that is another matter entirely. Evidence suggests that Palestinians being honest about their intentions is sketchy at best.

 

[joG]

Sweden Officially recognizes the Palestinian Authority and has allowed an Embassy to be established. Will this help or hurt their bid for Statehood? The Swedes think it will help establish them as so. What say ye?



The Palestinian Authority has opened their first embassy in Western Europe in Sweden on Monday. Sweden became the first Western European Union-member state, joining 135 out of 193 countries, who have fully or partially recognized a Palestinian state, according to RT. Until the formal announcement, the Palestinian Authority (PA) operated a General Delegation of Palestine in Sweden, based out of Stockholm.

Under the new agreement, Sweden will commit to raising aid to the PA by $180 million over the next five years. However, Prime Minister Lofven said that the commitment comes with a mandate for the Palestinian Authority to preside over a society controlled by the rule of law. The increased funding will be used to fighting corruption, advancing human rights, and gender equality, according to the Times of Israel. “According to our view, Palestine is from now on a state," Prime Minister Lofven said at the press conference. "Therefore our expectations from Palestine and its leaders are going to grow.”

The Parliaments of Spain, Ireland, Great Britain and France have all voted to recognize Palestine, against the will of the Israelis, according to a separate story from RT....snip~

Palestinians open first Western European Embassy: Is this a big deal?

It might be a sad day.

 

[MMC]

It is just a step, one of many the Palestinians are going to have to navigate to obtain a level of recognition that Israel is desperately trying to suppress. This sort of action could help their bid for statehood but at the expense of a division among nations going along with this and those opposed. Which is to say the Palestinians have become very adapt at making their conflict with Israel an international issue just as much as Israel has done on their own accord. And as the article points out, that is a two way street as Sweden is demanding action by the Palestinians to ensure this path continues. If the Palestinians live up to their word, that is another matter entirely. Evidence suggests that Palestinians being honest about their intentions is sketchy at best.

Heya OS. :2wave: Well now the PA will definitely play with the heads of the European Parliament. Get a few more to give up that money to them. Naturally any incidents with Israel can be exploited thru the EU and their Press.

 

[OrphanSlug]

Heya OS. :2wave: Well now the PA will definitely play with the heads of the European Parliament. Get a few more to give up that money to them. Naturally any incidents with Israel can be exploited thru the EU and their Press.

Thinking about the sister issues to this as well, like the Palestinians trying to get in front of the International Criminal Court. These actions, these appeals to the international community, by the Palestinians are an amazing departure from how they engaged Israel before. It presents itself as a forced peace path by international pressure, but what it really becomes is an extremely volatile new stage in relations between Israel and the Palestinians. The ICC has never had to dig into such a lengthy and complex disagreement like this before, and as such nations like Sweden are taking a risk getting involved using embassy in exchange for Palestinian assured internal controls over a small population so deeply divided in dealing with neighboring Israel.

Because of this, all of the middle east just entered a new phase of even more international interference even if it appears that Israel's supporters are going to be inherently at odds with EU nations supporting the Palestinians. With all the nations that want to point a weapon at Israel, the Palestinians must be sensing the timing of their activities as both strategic but dangerous. For all we know Israeli soldiers could return to the streets of Ramallah (appreciate the expression) while the Palestinians look to EU nations to work this out, quite a mess really.

 

[MMC]

Thinking about the sister issues to this as well, like the Palestinians trying to get in front of the International Criminal Court. These actions, these appeals to the international community, by the Palestinians are an amazing departure from how they engaged Israel before. It presents itself as a forced peace path by international pressure, but what it really becomes is an extremely volatile new stage in relations between Israel and the Palestinians. The ICC has never had to dig into such a lengthy and complex disagreement like this before, and as such nations like Sweden are taking a risk getting involved using embassy in exchange for Palestinian assured internal controls over a small population so deeply divided in dealing with neighboring Israel.

Because of this, all of the middle east just entered a new phase of even more international interference even if it appears that Israel's supporters are going to be inherently at odds with EU nations supporting the Palestinians. With all the nations that want to point a weapon at Israel, the Palestinians must be sensing the timing of their activities as both strategic but dangerous. For all we know Israeli soldiers could return to the streets of Ramallah (appreciate the expression) while the Palestinians look to EU nations to work this out, quite a mess really.

I am surprised the Europeans aren't concerned about Hamas continuing to get in rockets and materials for making missles. Or that they would ignore what the Egyptians are now saying. Especially with the smuggling.

So what do you think....is it a big deal or not?

 

[OrphanSlug]

I am surprised the Europeans aren't concerned about Hamas continuing to get in rockets and materials for making missles. Or that they would ignore what the Egyptians are now saying. Especially with the smuggling.

So what do you think....is it a big deal or not?

Yes, big deal. It opens up too many avenues for the division between Israel and the Palestinians to become points of division for other nations. Within the EU, or additional divisions within the UN, remains to be seen. I do not see these actions as having enough deescalation potential for the core problems between Israel and the Palestinians.

 

[MMC]

Yes, big deal. It opens up too many avenues for the division between Israel and the Palestinians to become points of division for other nations. Within the EU, or additional divisions within the UN, remains to be seen. I do not see these actions as having enough deescalation potential for the core problems between Israel and the Palestinians.

If they declare them a state.....and then they fire rockets into Israel. It will be an official act of war. Just how will they get themselves out of that, even with the Europeans help?

 

[OrphanSlug]

If they declare them a state.....and then they fire rockets into Israel. It will be an official act of war. Just how will they get themselves out of that, even with the Europeans help?

I can only assume the Palestinians are interested in the ICC sorting out who is the aggressor, thus the responsible party no matter who fires the next shot in this never ending conflict.

 

[MMC]

I can only assume the Palestinians are interested in the ICC sorting out who is the aggressor, thus the responsible party no matter who fires the next shot in this never ending conflict.

Well, it is a big deal with the press, huh. Still they were asking the question. Like they don't already know the answer.

That won't stop what others would consider as the Right to act in defense of the Israeli people.

 

[JANFU]

If this brings the peace talks to a satisfactory solution, then good. It will also hold both sides to -Hamas-PLO- then Israel to negotiate a final deal.
I am also for Israel maintaining border security with Jordan. Not the UN. Look to Lebanon for why.
Now what will the PLO do about the rabid types who want nothing more than the destruction of Israel.
How will these be held to account.
Israel would not accept PLO jurisdiction as the trial(s) would be farcical in the least.
Same would apply to Israeli's charged. The PLO would not accept an Israeli trial.

 

[MMC]

If this brings the peace talks to a satisfactory solution, then good. It will also hold both sides to -Hamas-PLO- then Israel to negotiate a final deal.
I am also for Israel maintaining border security with Jordan. Not the UN. Look to Lebanon for why.
Now what will the PLO do about the rabid types who want nothing more than the destruction of Israel.
How will these be held to account.
Israel would not accept PLO jurisdiction as the trial(s) would be farcical in the least.
Same would apply to Israeli's charged. The PLO would not accept an Israeli trial.

I think if they are given statehood. Then more pressure can be applied to them and then they can be reminded about committing acts of war that will bring more of a response than just Israel actions will be.

Although, a concern would be the Europeans allowing the Palestinians to get away with murder so to speak.

 

[CycloneWanderer]

If Palestinians are given their own state and then procede to immediately conduct acts of war on Israel, would people complain when Israel invaded and just formally conquered them?

 

[MMC]

If Palestinians are given their own state and then procede to immediately conduct acts of war on Israel, would people complain when Israel invaded and just formally conquered them?

Mornin' CW. :2wave: They would certainly be justified in doing so.....wouldn't they?

 

[Fearandloathing]

Heya OS. :2wave: Well now the PA will definitely play with the heads of the European Parliament. Get a few more to give up that money to them. Naturally any incidents with Israel can be exploited thru the EU and their Press.

That works two ways.

By being "recognized" instead of invalidated, they come into the main stream and become dependent on those states. Those states become softened in their approach when their financial and social standing is at risk.

Sooner or later, as the world came to except the state of Israel, the world including Israel will have to come to accept a Palistinian state on the world's terms, not theirs or Obama's.

 

[alexa]

There is another voice in this. First they sent a letter to EU countries asking them to vote for a Palestinian State alongside Israel

Israeli petition to European lawmakers: Recognize Palestine | +972 Magazine

Now they have launched a petition to the UN Security Council to set a date to end the occupation. (Obviously time is there for negotiations etc.)

WATCH: How a new UNSC resolution could be a game-changer | +972 Magazine

 

[ido_]

Recognition of a state has nothing to do with actual statehood just like refusing to recognize a state has nothing to do with actual statehood.