The Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations said on Monday that officials in Ramallah have decided not to proceed with a full bid for membership at the global body.
The main problem with making an attempt to join the UN as a fully-fledged member is the veto that the United States wields at the Security Council, Palestinian ambassador Riyad Mansour told journalists on Monday.
Washington maintains that the Palestinians can only join the UN after it has negotiated a peace deal with Israel. The State of Palestine was granted the status of an “observer state” at the UN in 2012, alongside the Vatican.
“We disagree with them on that,” Mr Mansour said. “We believe that our statehood, and our admission, is an innate right for the Palestinian people...to exercise it alone. It is not open for negotiation with anyone – nor will we ask for permission from anyone.”
He said it was unfair that Israel had been accepted as a full UN member while Palestine has to keep lobbying for membership, citing the 1947 General Assembly resolution that partitioned British-ruled Palestine into “independent Arab and Jewish states”.
He said that Palestine will “continue fighting for that right”.
To become a full member, nine countries of the 15 that sit on the UN Security Council would have to vote in favour of the Palestinians. But, even so, one of the five veto-wielding Security Council nations could block Palestinian membership.
Mr Mansour stressed that "negotiation is different than expressions of self-determination".
He noted that America's 13 colonies didn't negotiate with England in 1776 when they declared independence, and Israel didn't negotiate its independence declaration in 1948.
Since then, Mr Mansour said, "we have negotiated, and we could possibly, if the conditions are right".
But the Palestinians' distrust of US President Donald Trump's administration has escalated because of its pro-Israel stance, and has all but ended prospects of Israeli-Palestinian talks.
In May last year, the American leader moved the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, effectively recognising the city as Israel’s capital. The Palestinians subsequently cut off ties with the administration over his pro-Israeli positions.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has said that he will not agree to any peace plan proposed by the Trump administration.
Mr Trump and his advisers have repeatedly delayed any plan to roll out the peace agreement but say that it could be unveiled after the Israeli elections that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called early as he comes under increasing pressure over several corruption allegations. The vote will be held on April 9.
As for the prospect of revived Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, Mr Mansour said if Jerusalem and Palestinian refugees are off the table, and settlements are "more or less off the table, what is there left to negotiate?"
He said Israel is violating the 1993 Oslo Accords signed by Israel and the Palestinians which stipulates that Jerusalem, refugees, settlements, borders and other issues are final status issues to be negotiated directly – "and not one party to decide unilaterally the fate of any of these issues."
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Barcelona v Liverpool, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE).
Second leg
Liverpool v Barcelona, Tuesday, May 7, 11pm
Games on BeIN Sports
'Munich: The Edge of War'
Director: Christian Schwochow
Starring: George MacKay, Jannis Niewohner, Jeremy Irons
Rating: 3/5
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
LOVE%20AGAIN
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Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
Voices: How A Great Singer Can Change Your Life
Nick Coleman
Jonathan Cape
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Monster
Directed by: Anthony Mandler
Starring: Kelvin Harrison Jr., John David Washington
3/5
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Where to apply
Applicants should send their completed applications - CV, covering letter, sample(s) of your work, letter of recommendation - to Nick March, Assistant Editor in Chief at The National and UAE programme administrator for the Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism, by 5pm on April 30, 2020.
Please send applications to nmarch@thenational.ae and please mark the subject line as “Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism (UAE programme application)”.
The local advisory board will consider all applications and will interview a short list of candidates in Abu Dhabi in June 2020. Successful candidates will be informed before July 30, 2020.
Five healthy carbs and how to eat them
Brown rice: consume an amount that fits in the palm of your hand
Non-starchy vegetables, such as broccoli: consume raw or at low temperatures, and don’t reheat
Oatmeal: look out for pure whole oat grains or kernels, which are locally grown and packaged; avoid those that have travelled from afar
Fruit: a medium bowl a day and no more, and never fruit juices
Lentils and lentil pasta: soak these well and cook them at a low temperature; refrain from eating highly processed pasta variants
Courtesy Roma Megchiani, functional nutritionist at Dubai’s 77 Veggie Boutique
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More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
more from Janine di Giovanni
UAE jiu-jitsu squad
Men: Hamad Nawad and Khalid Al Balushi (56kg), Omar Al Fadhli and Saeed Al Mazroui (62kg), Taleb Al Kirbi and Humaid Al Kaabi (69kg), Mohammed Al Qubaisi and Saud Al Hammadi (70kg), Khalfan Belhol and Mohammad Haitham Radhi (85kg), Faisal Al Ketbi and Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)
Women: Wadima Al Yafei and Mahra Al Hanaei (49kg), Bashayer Al Matrooshi and Hessa Al Shamsi (62kg)
Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance: the specs
Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 plus rear-mounted electric motor
Power: 843hp at N/A rpm
Torque: 1470Nm N/A rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.6L/100km
On sale: October to December
Price: From Dh875,000 (estimate)
