Analysis of Abbas's UN speech

For a while now, I hear people around me ask innocently "why shouldn't the Palestinians be recognized as a full member-state by the UN?" as if that's the solution to the whole Middle East Peace Process.

These people can go to lengths dissecting Netanyahu's speech, casting doubt on his willingness to go to negotiations, taking offense at his slightest criticism of the Palestinian Authority for the current status quo, and generally feeling that his concerns regarding terrorism and security are bordering on paranoia.

But place these people in front of Abbas's speech, and they can't find a thing to criticize. Oh yeah sure, he hasn't been the perfect negotiator, but he's the most secular leader the Palestinians are likely to get, or something just as apologetic.

You expect so little of me that I can get a standing ovation just by waving this wad of papers

Why is it that people have such low expectations of the Palestinian leadership? Raise the bar a bit, you're not doing them any favors by treating them like incompetent kindergartners.

Abbas whines at the UN

Some people really have no shame.

Abbas could have had a great moment at the UN. Imagine coming in, and declaring "As a result of successful negotiations, and a strong infrastructure in cooperation with the Jewish State of Israel, I am proud to declare the establishment of the State of Palestine" or something just as kumbaya-ish.

Instead, we got this (PDF text in link).

Notice how there is no mention of Hamas or terrorism. No mention of Jews.
Just perpetual whining.

He even talks about Arafat's 1974 UN appearance with his famous ""Do not let the  olive branch  fall
from my hand", failing to mention that the other hand held the proverbial "freedom fighter's gun".
Just as all of his narrative, he glosses over anything the Palestinians may have done wrong, because they are just perfect citizens, aren't they?

The more things change the more they stay the same

Who actually has legal rights to Palestine? Part 2

Now that we've established the legal framework in place before the creation of the State of Israel, we can discuss the agreements, rights and obligations which followed it, particularly UN Security Council Resolution 242.
(If you haven't read Part 1 yet, I highly recommend it, it's good for your health)

Is Israel always in the UN's cross hairs?

United Nations Security Council Resolution 242 does not call for the return to 1967 borders

I assume most of you were already familiar with this concept. Still, it never hurts to be reminded of the context around this resolution. There are many points of discussion in regards to this resolution:

• Does every single word matter?
• Which version actually counts, the English or the French version?
• Is this resolution legally binding?

Blast from the Past - Arafat is a Mass Murderer

Helping my mom clean out the attic, and I found an old composition book of mine. I would sit in front of the TV, watching CNN, and write what I thought, what I would answer the TV if it could hear me. Sometimes I'd write down a funny thing I'd heard. But usually, it was my reactions to world events. A paper blog actually. The beta version of my blog.

This is something I wrote in the summer of 1999. I was a young idiot and I didn't write the date, but I can tell it was around that time because of other things I wrote in the pages before and the pages after.

I think we should understand that Israel has to stop whatever peace process it is undertaking with the Palestinians. This is because Palestinians don't want a country with the 1967 frontiers, but a total extermination of Israel.

1. Arafat hasn't changed the Palestinian Charter, pleading the destruction of Israel
2. Arafat continues provoking terror and violence
3. Arafat has tripled the size of his army, against all agreements
4. Arafat has openly admitted that he will not stop armed combat
5. Arafat sticks to his (impossible) demand for a Palestinian country whose capital is Jerusalem.

These points all lead to one and only conclusion: Arafat is a mass murderer who should sit behind bars and not receive a Nobel Peace Prize. The Oslo accords should be stopped right now, the Palestinian army disabled, and Israel should be given back its lost territories.

Hmmm, I have to say I was quite a smart kid. Some insight I had. Still more than most people have today.

It was so obvious to me back then, and it still is now. Why is it not obvious for everyone else?