JERUSALEM // The Palestinian Authority president yesterday announced plans to ask the UN to recognise Palestine as a full member state, setting the stage for a diplomatic showdown with the US.
In a televised address from Ramallah, Mahmoud Abbas told Palestinian diplomats and dignitaries that "we are going to the Security Council," - with his listeners interrupting the announcement with a standing ovation.
He is expected to submit his proposal on Friday after speaking to the UN General Assembly. He said it was the Palestinians' "legitimate right to demand the full membership of the state of Palestine in the UN to put an end to a historical injustice by attaining liberty and independence ... in a Palestinian state on the borders of June 4, 1967".
That reference seems aimed to assuage the US president, Barack Obama, who called in May for Israel-Palestinian negotiations to be based on the boundaries that existed before the Arab-Israeli war.
But Mr Obama has already promised to veto any bid for statehood when it reaches the 15-member Security Council.
The US president plans to meet the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, in New York next week, the White House said.
Mr Netanyahu's office responded to Mr Abbas's speech by saying that peace "is not achieved by a unilateral approach to the UN". Hamas, which controls Gaza, said Mr Abbas's plan was a perilous political move. The decision "to go to the UN without consulting with Palestinian factions about the negative and positive effect of such a move and with only partial Arab, Islamic and international support is something very risky," the Hamas spokesman, Fawzi Barhoum, told the Associated Press.
US and European diplomats were dispatched to the region this week to talk Mr Abbas down from his UN plan by proposing alternatives.
While failing to convince him, the president struck a conciliatory tone in his address and said a return to peace talks would be a priority following the UN vote.
"We will come back and restart negotiations on the other issues," he said, adding that the Palestinians "are not trying to isolate Israel or take away its legitimacy. We aim to isolate the policies of Israel, to take away the legitimacy of the occupation" of Palestinian land.
Israeli leaders fear the Palestinians could bring legal and economic sanctions against them should they receive an elevated status.
Mr Netanyahu is expected to address a General Assembly session on Friday and oppose the plan.
Israel's military has also made preparations for Palestinian violence, mobilising three battalions of 1,500 troops.
Mr Abbas raised concern about violence during his address, warning that "anything other than peaceful moves will harm us".
hnaylor@thenational.ae
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Libya's Gold
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
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What is cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying or online bullying could take many forms such as sending unkind or rude messages to someone, socially isolating people from groups, sharing embarrassing pictures of them, or spreading rumors about them.
Cyberbullying can take place on various platforms such as messages, on social media, on group chats, or games.
Parents should watch out for behavioural changes in their children.
When children are being bullied they they may be feel embarrassed and isolated, so parents should watch out for signs of signs of depression and anxiety
Tales of Yusuf Tadros
Adel Esmat (translated by Mandy McClure)
Hoopoe
LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
Did you know?
Brunch has been around, is some form or another, for more than a century. The word was first mentioned in print in an 1895 edition of Hunter’s Weekly, after making the rounds among university students in Britain. The article, entitled Brunch: A Plea, argued the case for a later, more sociable weekend meal. “By eliminating the need to get up early on Sunday, brunch would make life brighter for Saturday night carousers. It would promote human happiness in other ways as well,” the piece read. “It is talk-compelling. It puts you in a good temper, it makes you satisfied with yourself and your fellow beings, it sweeps away the worries and cobwebs of the week.” More than 100 years later, author Guy Beringer’s words still ring true, especially in the UAE, where brunches are often used to mark special, sociable occasions.
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe
For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.
Golden Dallah
For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.
Al Mrzab Restaurant
For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.
Al Derwaza
For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup.
