http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/22/world/obama-rebuffed-as-palestinians-pursue-un-seat.html?ref=world&gwh=44710E784E0BC9D126ACD1D2C226CFF9
So while the hikers were finally getting to come home from Iran (and it's about damn time!), Obama was try to dance around the issue facing the UN- Palestine is trying to join the UN, thus getting recognition that they are their own autonomous country. Kind of like Kosovo. Speaking of Kosovo...whatever happened with that? I'll have to research that later.
If you'll think back, there was a time where Obama supported Palestine in this struggle. Yesterday he said they were going about it wrong, and should instead get their autonomy through negotiations with Israel. Could it be because he really thinks this avenue is better? Could it be because he's afraid of losing pro-Israel votes (which tend to vote Democrat) to the Republicans? I'm not sure. I don't want to call it back pedaling per se...but since when have negotiations between Israel and Palestine actually solved anything?
Courtesy of the CIA World Factbook (a wonderful resource, by the way)- Kosovo declared themselves independent in 2010 (which I knew) and since then other countries have recognized them, but that's about it. Oh, and Serbia is super pissed about it.
ReplyDelete