The Palestinians have very little leverage in the negotiations with Israel, and they are hoping that membership and recognition as a UN state would enhance their legal and diplomatic position- currently rather weak. Washington and Israel stand in the way. Washington is the primary obstacle to the goal, as UN Security Council Permanent Member with veto. Recommendation of the UN Security Council is required before the Palestinian bid for membership would be forwarded to the all members in the General Assemble where the Palestinians have overwhelming support. However, the Palestinians could try the other door – for example the Vatican and Switzerland before 2002 (Switzerland only opted for full membership in October 2002) are/were not UN voting members by choice, and Palestine could opt for similar status giving it most of privileges and rights of membership including referring cases to the International Criminal Court. (The Palestinian Authority for now has “observer” status at UN with standing as many non-states similar to the ICRC, Organization of the Islamic Conference, European Union etc) In our interview earlier this year, the Palestinian Authority Observer Mission to UN Ambassador Riyad Mansour signaled his determination to proceed with UN membership push. Washington’s position then was not yet announced, but the interview evidenced that the Palestinians saw this as a test of Washington’s commitments and impartiality. (See - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/palestine-statehood-at-unamb-riyad-mansour-interview-p1/24296 ) Palestinian membership in the UN will be the most observed debate at this year’s opening of the UN General Assembly. The Palestinians had been promised a two state solution, but Washington backed negotiations have failed to produce progress. To the contrary, the status quo is posing from the Palestinian perspective great risks of erosion of their negotiating position and land as more Israeli settlements are built in the “Occupied Territories and East Jerusalem. The Palestinians also contend if South Sudan is eligible with yet undefined borders, unresolved situation with Sudan and substantially less established state institutions, then why should they be subjected to a different and more demanding set of criteria. diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/palestine-south-sudan-parallel/27841 Related FILM REPORTS – “Israeli Defense Minister Palestinian State” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/israel-defense-ministerpalestine-state/28007 FILM REPORT – “EU/UN Joint Palestine Visit” diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/eu-un-joint-palestine-visit/27000 FILM REPORT – “West Bank Expulsions” diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/west-bank-expulsions/28014 FILM REPORT - "Israeli/Palestinian Divide - Shimon Peres" - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/israel-palestinian-divideshimon-peresun/26155 By Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey Facebook – Become a Fan at “Diplomatically Incorrect” Twitter – Follow us at DiplomaticallyX