By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, August 9, updated -- When Israel blocked four members of the Non-Aligned Movement from entering the West Bank from Jordan, it cast a new light on the pending Palestinian invitation to the UN Security Council to visit.
The US has said no to the visit -- "at least until November," as one wag put it -- other have proposed that the invitation be converted into one to each Security Council member individually, so that perhaps 14 of the 15 members would go.
But now, after Israel blocked entry for Malaysia, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Cuba for not having diplomatic relations, what about for example Pakistan, which is on the Security Council this year and next?
Update: Inner City Press was aware of some nuance in Morocco's position and so left it out until now: Morocco has a bureau in Israel but closed it during the 2000 intifada. So could Morocco get in? Azerbaijan has relations, and presumably could.
Meanwhile, Inner City Press on August 8 asked Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Martin Nesirky:
Inner City Press: Iran has said that the Secretary-General has confirmed that he will attend the NAM meeting at the end of this month. Are the Iranian Government statements that he is going to the NAM meeting incorrect or is he going?
Spokesperson Nesirky: We are obviously aware of those reports. Um, I cannot confirm them, and I’m not going to comment on them. Okay?
Not really. Watch this site.
