Somewhere on the way to the UN, Palestine/Israeli conflict got in the way again. It could have been a moment for the US and allies to take credit for democracy’s gains in places like Libya, Ivory Coast and Egypt and to enhance pressure for change in Syria, Iran, Myanmar or Venezuela. However, the initiative has already slipped away as the Palestinian issue come to the forefront at the UN, and President Obama’s speech, (PHOTO Above Speaking from Script), did not keep the US ahead of the debate but rather behind. The Palestinian application for UN membership has gained the greatest attention at this year’s General Assembly opening. Failure to embrace their application or offer a credible alternative appears to confirm what the Palestinians and their allies are contending that the existing track led by Washington is fruitless without a change in the dynamics. The Palestinians and allies contend that state membership at the UN will give them some negotiating leverage where now they lack it at the negotiating table and on the ground in the “Occupied Territories” where new Israeli settlements establish new facts on the ground. Washington has charged that the Palestinian initiative at UN membership is an effort to isolate Israel and the US at the institution. However, without a credible counter proposal to fulfill the previous commitment to a viable Palestinian state, Washington and Israel are isolating itself. Who ever is right in this debate on membership, (and there is no doubt that overwhelming number of diplomats view the Palestinians as at least opting for the only viable option now), the Washington as well as Israel could not have allowed the moment to pass without offering some other alternative beyond the rather vague term “negotiations.” Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barack, (See - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/israel-defense-ministerpalestine-state/28007 ), who I have met and been impressed with his straightforward character, also appeared to at least sense the possibility that Israel may be missing an opportunity by not joining rather than opposing the Palestinian effort toward membership. (Contrary to President Obama’s suggestion, the precedent of Sudan and South Sudan evidences how South Sudan’s full statehood and UN membership even before all border and outstanding disputes have been resolved can move forward the process, even negotiations as both parties are compelled to deal with each other from legal and diplomatic equality – See - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/palestine-south-sudan-parallel/27841 ). The question is to what extent rightwing forces in Israel are now effectively dictating policy with perhaps the motive to entirely scuttle efforts at a two state solution and bring the peace process back to something below ground zero. Washington probably will not succeed in convincing the Palestinians to back off. They believe they have little to lose in terms of actual support in Washington, at least as no viable alternative is offered to enhance their equal standing to Israel in the negotiations that US officials keep promising. Of course the Palestinians also cannot gain their full goal of membership with the US holding the veto in the UN Security Council. However, they can achieve status legally and diplomatically greater than now at the UN (See Vatican and Switzerland prior to 2002 - Will Palestine Seat this Chair at UN? - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/will-palestine-seat-this-chair-at-un-photo-tells-the-story-by-ambassador-mo/35254 ), It is actually this result that concerns Washington and the current Israeli government the most because it can open for the fledgling Palestinian state new avenues diplomatic and legal including potentially the International Criminal Court. The game is far from over at the UN on Palestinian membership. However, from the talk in the hallways as well as the podiums, Washington has already lost all it has gained the last year and the peace process is further back rather than ahead, whether the Palestinian initiative succeeds or not. The Palestinians are expected to deliver their formal application for membership this Friday to the UNSG Ban Ki-moon. However, the issue left unresolved will continue to dominate the discussions for this entire fall. Bad news for most other pressing concerns/issues as global economic crisis, development goals, climate change, alternative energy, poverty and famine, child mortality, women’s rights and the countless other real and potential conflicts that crowd the need for peacemaking from Sudan to North Korea. There may be one group of winners though who may have escaped the diplomatic and legal spotlight – Syria’s Bashar Assad and the other tyrannical despots whose representatives get to walk the UN hallways unchallenged. It is bad enough if an opportunity is lost, but it would be a tectonic missed turn in the road if the outcome is that the Arab frustration and calls for change in the street directed at their leaders is again now diverted back to anger with US and Israel. The cycle must be broken or otherwise it risks to watershed into the same wasted flow of emotions and societal energy. By Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey Facebook – Become a Fan at “Diplomatically Incorrect” Twitter – Follow us at DiplomaticallyX Previous ARTICLE – “Will Palestine Seat This Chair?” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/will-palestine-seat-this-chair-at-un-photo-tells-the-story-by-ambassador-mo/35254 ),