In a significant advance for the Palestinian cause, the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) has voted by 107 to 14, with 52 abstentions and 21 absentees, to admit Palestine as a full member. Brazil, China, India, Russia, and South Africa voted in favour, as did France. The United States, predictably, voted against, saying that the proposal was “regrettable” and would undermine a “just and lasting peace” in the region. Directly after the vote, the U.S. acted on a 1990s law requiring it to end payments to any U.N. body that admitted Palestine. Unesco will lose about $70 million a month, or some 22 per cent of its budget. Israel has stopped its 3 per cent contribution to the organisation, and is accelerating settlement construction in the illegally occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. It has also frozen customs and other revenues of about $100 million a month, which it collects for the Palestinian Authority, as the latter has no control over its own borders. In addition, since the Unesco vote, there have been several cyber attacks on Palestinian internet service providers, with net access cut off in many cases.
The whole issue shows how vindictive both Israel and the U.S. are towards the Palestinians. That some Israeli Ministers disapprove of the money freeze and that Washington has expressed disquiet about it reflects merely instrumentalist concern that the Palestinian Authority (PA) might now lack funds to enforce order in the West Bank. The freeze and the illegal building programme amount to collective punishment. Washington's Congress-imposed block on its payments to Unesco is another form of that, but one aimed at the whole world, despite the fact that firms like Google, Apple, and Microsoft use Unesco for access to developing markets. The lobbying body, American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) ensured that all mention of national interest was excluded from the relevant law. Clearly, the Zionist lobby in the U.S. is so powerful that it can make Congress pass legislation that ties the President's hands in foreign affairs even if that harms U.S. interests. Yet, by a cruel irony, Unesco, the very body on to which Palestine has been voted, was, only a few years ago, involved in plans for a wider protection zone around the former Nazi extermination camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau in southern Poland. It is only to be hoped that the U.S. and its major ally Israel can learn something from that memento of evil, and that they will stop punishing the Palestinians for claiming their legitimate rights, in effect for being Palestinians.
I appreciate "The Hindu" for putting-up such a brave statement at a time when false propaganda has dominated the world of journalism. Is it a ray of hope? Gives some idea how the Zionist lobby in the west has been influencing/dominating world's affairs for its own interest. This has been solely a "propaganda war". Through this, they have been able to set their agenda easily. Though, this seat in UNESCO is a very tiny step but, i hope it is stepping stone for things to follow. It is quite apparent that the so-called "Super-Power" has bowed down to illegitimate orders of his proxy-master. Hence, cutting aids to UNESCO was inevitable and doesn't come as a surprise. I hope the world now realize this and come out strongly against the Zionism. For ignorant's calling Palestinian terrorists and murders, it is time to open their minds & understand that they are only defending their land that has been occupied over last 60yrs. What do you do when someone intrudes your home tries to kick you out?
Israel was created after balfour declaration, and the aliyah "immigration" started from germany and europe post holocaust 1945.The palestinians in mercy sheltered the jewish refugees but in return they created holocaust for them.Israel acquired nuclear weapons in 1973 and have nuclear warhead bullying other Arab,s countries with charges of WMDs. May the foreign policy of USA not be a voice of zionism and nazism.May the world undestand the plight of palestinian refugees.
Israel cannot be occupying "Palestinian" land because there is no sovereign entity that exists in the west bank. The status of the west bank since 1967 is disputed territory. The last sovereign entity that rules this disputed territory was the ottoman empire. After world war I, the British were given a mandate to oversee the territory until a final resolution was found. Characterizing this land as "Palestinian" is incorrect
well done thehindu,no one can forget the sufferings of the
palestenians,but atleast through your editorial the readers can feel the
heartbeat of palestenians.its time to classify who is the real
terrorist,the americans, europeans(not the comman man,but their govts.)&
the members of AIPAC(american israel public affairs committe)
The Land has been called 'Palestine' from times even before US, UK or in fact any of the western countries existed. Just like they did in India, the British colonized the land and when they left, created Israel to be the homeland for jews, i.e., a colonizing power gives a land that belongs to the palestinians to a third group of people who never existed in that land a few years before. I will not compare it to the partition of India because, at least here the Pakistani population are ethnically from this same land. Whereas Israel was stolen from palestinians to accommodate European jews.
So after the land was split into Palestine & Israel in 1948, Israel with support from US kept on occupying palestinian land illegally thereby expanding & driving away the ethnic population. The UN has more than a few times called this illegal and passed a number of resolutions but the occupation continues till today. Which country should the UN recognize & whom should it de-recognize?
I am very happy to write that The Hindu doesn’t follow hypocritical
journalism that is prevailing in India and the rest of the World. Such
courageous articles have always been one of its distinct features. I
shall say few people have suffered more constant humiliation,
oppression, brutality and misery in the last 50 years than the
Palestinians. Hats off for the good work by The Hindu.
A bold step by The Hindu to highlight the injustice shown to humanity!
Happy to see in indian news media showing truth to world, but is very rare, this is real true and Good article.
Reaction of the USA government and the Israel has once again taught us, what real terrorism is(if the definition of terrorist is understood as the one who installs fear in the heart and mind of people,who denies humanity and who bullies others for their selfish intentions).But of course if someone thinks that a particular religion promotes violence and follower of that religion are terrorist than I will advise -first know what religion you follow and what it really teaches and whats written in your holly scriptures.
Its true American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is now the most powerful lobby in America, every president before being elected has to show before AIPAC how loyal he is to Israel and Zionism.Its time for Americans to decide whether they want to support an Apartheid regime or change its foreign policy.For that AIPAC must be isolated.
The Hindu indeed has very high standards of journalism. This is really a an authentic and a courageous article. Salute to THE HINDU. Its high time that the plight of the Palestinians was highlighted.
Palestine is a land which was forcefully taken by the jews. And their argument is "Palestine is the land promised to the Jews by GOD". If I beleive this I would accept Judaism. According to Islam this world should be governed by the laws of Allah. Will you accept this being a christian. If not then how come you accept jews' argument that Palestine is a land promised by God. This is a no argument. This land was snatched by the Jews hence muslims don't recognize Israel. All the fight to get back this land is a freedom struggle & cannot be callsed as terrorism. The occupation of Indian subcontinent, australian continent, south africa continent by the British empire & it's brother states like france, portugal, spain, netherlands and italy was terrorism which the world had been made to forgot because the perpetrators of the terrorism now control the media. Please don't term the legitmate struggle to liberate Palestine from the occupiers as terrorism. And if you still say this then who cares.
a brilliant article. just rips off the mask of the Israelis. their deeds are far more cruel evil and unpardonable as compared to the Palestinians.i just wonder when the media in the US and other developed world countries will have the guts to state the truth - the naked truth. Israelis are not only mere victims of terrorism (as claimed by them) they are also the only internationally recognized and democratically elected "TERRORIST" country in the whole world. The Palestinians are fighting for a just cause - FREEDOM. The whole world acknowledged their suffering and painful fight for freedom by voting for them. Israel see yourself in the mirror. Its high time u face the truth. For how long will you keep running away from the truth?
It is a fact that Palastine is the largest open prison in the world. Millions of people living under constant threat of raids and murder by the Israeli army. When they are illegally occupied and the so called international laws are so muted, what else should the people of Palestine do, other than resisting the attacks by facing dignifed death? If killing of people is a criterion to call a nation a 'terrorist state',how many nations are there in UN and UNESCO to qualify for a membership?
Kudos for the brave article. Anyone with even 1% knowledge on the issue knows the strength of Zionist lobbies and the consequences of an anti-zionist article. Hope the commenters know that Israel has been building settlements in the palestinian territory illegally for more than 50 years now and no one seems to have a problem with that. Israel mercilessly killed thousands of civilians including more than 400 children and UN-run schools bombarded. Israeli settlers still go on and set fire to palestinian olive farms in west bank every week and kill anyone protesting. Gaza has been under siege i.e., its borders sealed and everything including even food, medicines etc aren't allowed in. Why hasn't anyone mentioned the rights of these people? When all else fails, the Gazans respond by firing low grade rockets that barely reach any major Israeli cities. Really, they don't even land in Israel, because it actually is illegally occupied Palestinian land. Who are the real terrorists here??
Once again, Hindu stands up to its standards in stating what is
obvious and should have been on people's mind all this while. The
saddening part is that articles like this are read and understood and
propagated by a meager few and the pro-US articles are the one that
get all the attention. And the icing: people have the courage to
justify the stand of these countries. Right from the origin of Israel
to the settlements, the blockades (of humanitarian aids), embargo on
the supporting countries (and now even UNESCO), selective assassinations, killing children and women, and what not. I guess one
needs to be blind to realize what's being done with the Palestinians
and even then, you have to try really hard.
PS: A humble note to Americans, if you claim to be on top of the world
and the superpower; dig a bit deeper to know who is controlling whom.
A very good editorial seeking justice for the present Palestinian generation and their country to be recognised as a state and be in existence in that part of the world which is now occupied (most of the Arab states-egypt,syria,Israel & Jordan area now).In view of Mr.Lorin's remarks above accusing the present Palestinian generation as terrorists, Ur editirial will do better by bringing out how Hitler tried to eliminate all the Zionists in the world as a community during WW-II and only the victorious Allies in the late 1940s-specially the UK,France,USA,Russia and then Koumintang(Chiang) china)- brought Isreal into existence and was recognised as a state!
@Lorin : Israel has been denying rights of the Palestinians since its inception and now this bogey of terrorism doesn't hold any good. The world has awakened to realise who the real terrorists and murderers are and have voted in favour of the real victims as againt the self proclaimed victims. Israel and its cronies can go on and keep trying to subvert and undermine the Palestinians' demand for a nationhood but the day is not far when the whole world would isolate the real criminals. Kudos to The Hindu for publishing the voice of reason.
A 'in your face comment' and indeed a pretty courageous one. These are pure facts that have been mentioned in this editorial. Palestine has every right to demand its rights, being admitted to UNESCO seemed a good step towards future but the US and Israel have made sure that Palestinians suffer. All the Palestinians are not terrorists, there are a number of people who want peace and tranquility, a chance to live their lives free of fear. The world will have to rise above selfish motives and hatred if there is to be peace or even a slight ray of hope, but alas this isn't the ideal world we live in.
Lorin:"The punishment is not for being Palestinians, but for being terrorists." Weren't Indian Freedom Fighters were called terrorists by the British? Even Mahatma Gandhi was called a terrorist. Palestinians are showing the persistence of a long drawn out Freedom Struggle as we did. That is why they shall win. The world knows about the colonial and apartheid in the West Bank as we suffered during the British. That is why Palestine was admitted in the UNESCO.
This is a couragrous editorial. One that many publications in the West would have been too weak willed to write. In fact, in most Western media, the Israeli settlements are often not even called out as being illegal. Well done.
The punishment is not for being Palestinians, but for being terrorists. When the proposed future government of Palestine - the one that will have Israel as a neighbor - stops lobbing rockets into Israel, then it will be time to talk to the Palestinians as citicens of this world. Until then, they are what they are - terrorists and murderers - and they should be treated accordingly.
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