Despite strong opposition from the US and several European countries, UNESCO has shown initial support for Palestinian membership.  The US has hinted at reprisals based on prohibitions on granting membership to those who do not meet certain requirements for a state.

Meanwhile, the drama of what will happen to the Palestinians bid for UN membership continues, as noted in the latest CMEP bulletin: 

What’s Next at the UN?
Congress Gets Serious
Tensions on the Ground
Settlement Expansion Announced
Calls to Annex the West Bank?
Happy New Year

The most recent CMEP bulletin from September 16 focuses on the events leading up the Palestinian request for statehood and full inclusion at the UN. It gives some background of the different positions and statements made by leaders in the weeks prior to this historic event.

It also includes reports on the current situation on the ground concerning the forceable relocation of bedouins and the most recent “price tag” events carried out by Israeli settlers in response to outposts being demolished by the Israeli government.

You can read the newsletter here.

The September 9 bulletin from Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) discusses developments surrounding the Palestinians’ UN bid, expected September 20; the IDF training and arming of Israeli settlers to prepare them for Palestinian protests, though the Palestinians are calling for non-violent protests; the high rate of settlement construction; and the release of the Palmer report to the UN about the Gaza flotilla.

The plot is thickening around the Palestinian’s plan to go to the UN and ask for member status.  Israel’s ambassador Ron Prosor is reported to have stated that there is no way Israel will be able to block the UN General Assembly from recognizing Palestine.  Meanwhile, the US Consul General in Jerusalem Daniel Rubenstein says that the US will cut aid to the Palestinians if they continue on this path.

Although some predict that it will cause Palestinians some problems if Palestine becomes a member state in the UN, others disagree.

This page on the CMEP website has links to several organizations’ compilations of frequently asked questions and resources about the UN statehood initiative.   

In the August 26 CMEP bulletin, read updates on escalating violence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, Egypt/Israeli diplomatic tension, the continuing controversy about Palestinian statehood through the United Nations and other items.

This week’s CMEP bulletin looks at how the renewal of violence is affecting or may affect the peace process. Topics covered are:

• Attacks in Israel’s Southern Border
• Israeli Announcements for More Building in West Bank
• September’s Palestinian Bid for UN Membership
• Plight of Palestinians in Syria Crackdown
• Republican Candidates on Israel

Read the bulletin.

The most recent bulletin from Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) looks at:

The protests in Israel
The recent approval of settlements, almost 5000 in two weeks;
The 80 congressional members flocking to Israel this month paid for by the American Israel Education Foundation, a group closely associated with the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC);
The probability of the Palestinians going to the UN this fall to request full statehood.  

Last week’s CMEP bulletin looked at:  

So Close, and Yet So Far (PA efforts toward UN statehood)
Israeli Housing Protests and Settlements
Home Demolitions and Settlements Linked
West Bank Outpost to be Demolished
Local elections for PA
J Street Story
Funding Fight in Washington

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For a list of all CMEP bulletins please check out their website. You can also sign up to receive CMEP alerts, bulletins and more by email. Sign up.