Palestinians Seeking Statehood at UN May Get Same Rights as Pope

[Scurrilous]

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"Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas won’t walk away from the United Nations General Assembly this month with the sought-after statehood. More likely, he’ll get parity with the world’s smallest state led by Pope Benedict XVI.

Support for the upgrade in Palestinian status at the UN from “entity” to “non-member state” is likely if the matter is brought to a vote in the 193-member assembly, where a two- thirds majority, or 129 votes, is required.

Gaining equality with the only sovereign state that isn’t a UN member, the Holy See, may be more than symbolic. It may allow the Palestinian Authority to sign treaties such as the Rome Statute that set up the International Criminal Court, according to European diplomats speaking on condition of anonymity. Access to the court in The Hague may provide legal cover for the Palestinian Authority to seek war-crimes prosecutions of Israelis for actions in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the European diplomats said."

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-08/palestinians-seeking-statehood-at-un-may-get-same-rights-as-pope.html


Israelis could face trial in The Hague if Palestinian statehood recognized at UN, experts warn

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/israelis-could-face-trial-in-the-hague-if-palestinian-statehood-recognized-at-un-experts-warn-1.383144

According to the statute of the court, the direct or indirect transfer of an occupier’s population into occupied territory constitutes a war crime.