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http://gazatvnews.com US Organizations Urge Obama not to Veto Palestine’s UN Bid The US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation delivered Friday to the US State Department an open letter signed by more than 125 groups, including 30 national organizations, and petitions signed by more than 25,000 people urging the Obama Administration not to veto Palestinian UN membership if the issue arises in the Security Council. “Through our efforts, the U.S. government will realize what so many people already know: that the way to achieve a just and lasting Israeli-Palestinian peace is to base our country’s policies on human rights, international law, and equality, and not to deny Palestinians freedom and self-determination.” A statement issued by the Campaign said National organizations Code Pink, Grassroots International, Jewish Voice for Peace, and Just Foreign Policy contributed petition signatures to the overall count. Other national organizations endorsing the open letter include: the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, American Educational Trust, American Federation of Ramallah, Palestine, American Jews for a Just Peace, American Muslims for Palestine, Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism, Episcopal Peace Fellowship Palestine-Israel Network, Fellowship of Reconciliation, Friends of Sabeel—North America ,Global Exchange, Interfaith Peace-Builders, Intersect Worldwide, Israel/Palestine Mission Network of the Presbyterian Church, (U.S.A.), Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD)—USA, Middle East Children’s Alliance, Paulist Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations, Peace Action, Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, Progressive Democrats of America, Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice , Unitarian Universalists for Justice in the Middle East, United for Peace and Justice, United Methodist General Board of Church and Society, U.S. Peace Council, and War Resisters League. Dear Secretary of State Clinton and Ambassador Rice, This month the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations is expected to submit an application for the State of Palestine to become a member of the United Nations. We, the undersigned individuals and organizations representing hundreds of thousands of supporters across the United States, call upon you not to veto this membership application in the Security Council. In 1949, Senator John Sherman Cooper, the U.S. Representative to the United Nations General Assembly, promised that the United States had “no intention of preventing, by its vote, the admission to the United Nations of any applicant which received at least seven affirmative votes in the Security Council, which meant that the United States would not use its right of veto in the Security Council on any membership application.” [1] However, the Obama Administration has made clear it intends to abandon this commitment when it comes to the State of Palestine. In remarks to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee on May 22, 2011, President Barack Obama stated that “No vote at the United Nations will ever create an independent Palestinian state.” He equated Palestinian membership at the United Nations with “efforts to single Israel out at the United Nations...Israel’s legitimacy is not a matter for debate.” President Obama promised to “stand up against” this initiative, noting “That is my commitment; that is my pledge to all of you.” [2] For decades, Palestinians have been prevented from exercising their rights to freedom and self-determination on even a portion of their historic homeland due to Israel’s historic and ongoing policies of ethnic cleansing, apartheid, military occupation, and colonization. Palestinians are seeking membership in the United Nations as a way toward Palestinian freedom and self-determination and establishing a just and lasting Israeli-Palestinian peace that must include ending Israel’s illegal military occupation of the Palestinian West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip; equality for Palestinian citizens of Israel; and recognition and implementation of the right of return for Palestinian refugees. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote in his Letter from Birmingham Jail: "For years now I have heard the word 'Wait!'...This 'Wait' has almost always meant 'Never.'" The worst stumbling block to freedom's advance, King argued, is the person who "believes he can set the timetable for another" person's freedom. [3] Palestinians have waited more than 63 years for their human rights. We urge you—do not set a timetable for Palestinian freedom by vetoing Palestinian membership in the United Nations.
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