At UN on Palestine, Lobbying Works Both Ways, Goodluck to All

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, September 28 -- After a meeting on Palestine mere minutes in length, Israeli Permanent Representative Ron Prosor and Palestinian Permanent Observer Riyad Mansour both spoke to the press.

Mansour said, in essence, look how many meetings: Monday, Wednesday and Friday as the first meeting of the committee "at the Ambassador level" on Palestine's application.

He said that Israel's Netanyahu government announcing 1100 new settlement housing units was 1100 "no's" to peace. Inner City Press asked Mansour for the response to the Quartet Statement, which he'd said would be Wednesday.

You will hear from Ramallah, Mansour said and left the stakeout. Prosor took his place and said again, by way of opening, that Jerusalem was the capital of the Jewish people while London was still a swamp. (Prosor began using this line when he was Israeli Ambassador to the UK -- some think he should update his material.)

Inner City Press asked him for his Security Council vote count for Palestinian UN membership, and if Israel is lobbying Gabon, Nigeria and Bosnia, at least the Republica Srbska portion.

Prosor cited US President Obama that "through the Security Council, Palestine will not become the 194th member state," then acknowledged that Israel, too, is lobbying: "truthfully, we are both working."

One step was Ehud Barak meeting with Nigeria's Goodluck Jonathan. Some think it was an error to come out of the meeting bragging that Nigeria would abstain, and talking about meeting with Nigeria's oil minister. But to each his own. Game on.

Driving for 9 Votes, Palestine Targets Bosnia, Gabon & Nigeria, Mulls Quartet

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, September 26 -- When Palestinian Observer Riyad Mansour spoke to the press on Friday afternoon, he began by maintaining that the nine Security Council members which have previously recognized Palestine will vote "yes" on membership.

Inner City Press asked, what about Bosnia, has Palestine met with the Republica Srbska third of the government?

Mansour described a Palestinian visit to Bosnia at which the delegation was well received; he said he visited Belgrade in Serbia and spoke with the relevant people. But who can reach Republica Srbska? It is not clear.

As South African Permanent Representative Baso Sangqu entered the Security Council, Inner City Press asked him if there would be three African Union "yes" votes for Palestinian membership. I can only speak for my vote, Baso said. South Africa is a yes; Gabon and Nigeria less so. According to Mansour, both will also be new visits.

Asked about Friday's Quartet Statement, Mansour said that the Palestinian leadership will meet about it on Wednesday. But he said that a cessation of the settlements is required. The Quartet didn't speak to that, as noted by Mahmoud Abbas to the media on his way back to Ramallah. Mansour also noted that Israel has not embraced the Quartet Statement.

Beyond the fight between UN Security and the Turkish delegation that Inner City Press exclusively reported on Friday, Inner City Press has been informed that while Abbas gave his speech on Friday, Avigdor Lieberman did come into the GA Hall -- only in order to immediately leave it.

Even before Monday's consultations started, spokespeople told the Press that there would be an open meeting on the Council on Wednesday to formally refer Palestine's application to an "Ad Hoc" committee on membership -- all 15 members are on the committee -- and that the committee will meet for the first time on Friday. And so it goes at the UN - watch this site.

On Palestine, Ashrawi Says US Uses "Blackmail," Hopes Republica Srbska in Bosnia Does Right

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, September 21 -- Long time Palestinian advocacy Hanan Ashrawi was at the UN on Wednesday, and Inner City Press asked her about votes in the Security Council for Palestine's UN membership.

Minutes earlier, Nabil Shaath spoke of how he was with the PLO at the UN in 1974, and said that since nine Security Council members have recognized Palestine, he assumes they would vote in favor of Palestinian UN membership. His list included Russia, China, India, Lebanon, South Africa, Brazil, Gabon, Nigeria -- and Bosnia.

Ashrawi, asked about the figure of nine supporters, said "we're working at it." She complained that the US is "pressuring, cajoling, even blackmailing" countries to vote against Palestine. She said that "Third World countries... the weak" don't like to feel they are being browbeaten. She said the US should have put this energy into promoting peace.

Informed Balkan sources have for weeks told Inner City Press that the Republica Srbska portion of the Bosnian government does not want to vote in favor of Palestine, and that on this matter that would lead to an abstention. Inner City Press asked Ashrawi about Bosnia, Republica Srbska and a possible non affirmative vote.

On camera , Ashrawi said "we hope the Bosnians take the right decision and I think the Serb member of the tri sy should und this is in fav just it is an imperative and a responsibility." Click here for YouTube video, from Minute 1:06.

Will Republica Srbska "understand" that? Or who will reach out and (counter) "cajole" them? Watch this site.