The Palestinian view

Just over a year ago, President Obama stood in front of the United Nations and declared “When we come back here next year, we can have an agreement that will lead to a new member of the United Nations — an independent, sovereign state of Palestine.” Well, here we are.

A year has passed, and zero negotiation has occurred between Israelis and
Palestinians.

A year has passed, and Israel has continued its illegal process of colonizing East Jerusalem and the West Bank, stealing what little land is left for a Palestinian state.
A year has passed, and the Palestinian Authority has continued the quiet work of building the economy and the foundation of a state, despite Israel’s crushing
occupation.

A year has passed, and it is time for a Palestinian state.
The Palestinian people have been denied their basic right to national self-determination since the time of the Balfour Declaration.

No longer should this injustice exist.

Just as the United Nations enabled Israel’s Declaration of Independence in 1948, the United Nations can enable Palestinian statehood in 2011.

The governments of Israel and the United States want you to believe there are only two options: the conflict can go on for eternity or the sides can reach peace through the same stalled negotiations that have gone on for the past 20 years. Don’t believe them.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas offers a third way: through diplomacy at the United Nations and non-violent protests in the Occupied Territories, the conditions for peace will improve.

This statehood bid will not change facts on the ground, but that doesn’t change the fact that it is the right thing to do.

As President Obama has said, “For peace to come, it is time for them — and all of us — to live up to our responsibilities.”