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Middle East Forum Director Daniel Pipes on the impact of Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas’ efforts to gain statehood in the U.N. on the Mideast peac...
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-- scandal at the United Nations today Palestinian leader more -- Abbas.
-- the United Nations to recognize -- state for the Palestinians.
Despite objections from Israel and the United States and other nations.
Applause erupted in the general assemble.
Assembly as a -- displayed and you see here the application for UN membership.
Put a short time later Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu took from the same podium to -- the Palestinians stop the sidestep.
Nearly two decades of negotiation.
-- President Abbas.
Wanted to join.
We have to stop negotiating about the negotiations.
Let's just get on with -- let's negotiate peace.
Joining me now from Boston on these latest developments on the prospects for peace -- -- director of the Middle -- -- Daniel good to have you with us.
-- your reaction to the what is obviously an intriguing.
On the part of the Palestinians but certainly.
An embrace from the United Nations itself.
To provide this resolution.
Accepting.
The Palestinian state.
Your thoughts.
People who I have two explanations for what Mahmoud Abbas has been doing.
Against Israel and an America.
One is that this makes them popular in the Palestinian Authority.
There were -- there was dancing -- today in Ramallah.
Palestinians attend to see more -- us as a whim of someone who didn't stand up his -- United States while he's -- -- So -- from internally also I think in the long term this is a move in the negotiating process because.
The Europeans the American government are now gonna go to America now -- and we did what you want we came out against.
What Abbas is asking for now you.
Benjamin Netanyahu have to do what we want.
And you have to be more flexible -- and the Palestinians so I think from Mahmoud Abbas point of view this long term is quite useful step.
And the negotiating process.
So our bosses -- the United States and Israel and now has significant influence over the directional whatever negotiation doesn't -- Depending upon whether or not the Obama administration can be successful with Netanyahu's government is that correct.
Correct -- the question is will.
The Netanyahu government actually be forthcoming and make these concessions such as.
The Obama administration Europeans and Abbas are asking in particular when -- stop building Jewish towns in the west bank and eastern Jerusalem.
Apartments and tell us what will they really supplements and not come that has been in new issue -- -- sense -- moment came to office and it's -- -- must provide sufficient.
Hi.
I don't know I mean Netanyahu has been in quite well domestically.
And has good strong support in the United States for saying no I'm not gonna stop that wasn't in the Oslo accords -- -- -- agree to -- my predecessors never return -- -- continue along with -- And importantly has level of support in Israel.
Like interaction that and also his statement today that settlements were not.
The obstacle to negotiating successfully peace.
Right -- from the Israeli point of view that's about 20074.
Years ago there's been a new topic.
It's not just enough to recognize Israel it's important it's necessary it's required to recognize this -- -- state.
Because in retrospect Israelis realize that really recognizing the state of who's who doesn't amount to that much it's recognized it as a Jewish state.
And that is sticking them across the -- students who.
Refuse to do.
So the Palestinians demanding know building an Israeli -- recognizes it as a Jewish state this is these of the new dividing lines which five years of the domestic law.
Which doesn't sound a bit like progress of any kind -- -- foundation for future success at least in the near near term.
Daniel Pipes is always good to talk with you thanks for being.
