What If - A Palestinian State is Created by the United Nations?

The clock continues ticking down to the September 20 date when the Palestinian Authority is scheduled to present to the United Nations its plan for a unilateral declaration of statehood. At present it appears that their Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has enough votes within the membership of the General Assembly to secure passage of his proposal. However, the status of the proposal within the Security Council is not as assured. The United States has indicated that it will not vote for the proposal, but American leaders have not stated whether they would veto or just abstain from the vote. A veto is crucial, as a mere abstention would allow the proposal to be adopted.

Let's look for a few moments at what the Palestinian Authority (PA) is asking. According to the 1933 Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States - this is the prevailing legal standard defining what constitutes a state - a state is defined as "a person of international law possessing the following qualifications: a) a permanent population; b) a defined territory; c) government; and d) capacity to enter into relations with other states. (Taken from an article titled, "The Palestinians' Imaginary State" by Steven J. Rosen, found at the Middle East Forum website - www.meforum.org).

In that article the author states that there are presently two Palestinian states that would meet the criteria of the 1933 Montevideo Convention. The first is the state of Gaza. It has a permanent population. It has a defined territory. It has a government under the leadership of Hamas, howbeit, one that certainly has not been recognized by most of the civilized world. And it has already entered into relationships with other nations, Iran being an example.

The second Palestinian state already in existence is known as the West Bank. It has a permanent population. It has a defined territory. It has a government under the leadership of Fatah. And it has already entered into relationships with other nations.

However, the state that will be presented to the United Nations General Assembly is a state that does not presently exist. It is a unification of Gaza and the West Bank into one nation. However, there are some serious difficulties here. Both entities are under different political parties, and in spite of their agreement earlier this summer to form a unified government, no such unification has occurred; instead the rift between Hamas and Fatah has seemed to widen. Furthermore, there is great concern about the legitimacy of the government of Abbas and the PA. His term of office expired in 2009, and although it was extended to 2010, new elections have not been called for within the West Bank. (Note: Abbas has hinted that he would have elections early next year, but don't take that word to the bank quite yet). Abbas has traveled extensively in Europe and South America seeking support for his proposal.

What will happen if, in September, the United Nations unilaterally declares a sovereign Palestinian State made up of Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem? According to Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, in an interview with reporters on August 7, there will be war. To quote him, "The Palestinian Authority is getting ready for bloodshed on a scale we haven't seen. The more they speak about non-violent action, the more they are preparing for bloodshed." He believes that once a declaration is adopted, Arabs from the West Bank and Gaza will flood the various checkpoints, forcing their way past IDF soldiers and into Israel's major cities.

So, as you can see, the situation pending before the United Nations in September has grave consequences. Some of you might be saying, "So, what! Why should I care?" Just last week, in a meeting with a United States Congressional Delegation visiting Ramallah, PA Chairman Abbas stated that he wants a NATO force, under the leadership of the United States, to guarantee and to guard the security of the new Palestinian state. Do you know what that means? American soldiers will be stationed in East Jerusalem, Jericho, Ramallah, Nabullus, Bethlehem, and other strategic locations along the newly created Israeli-Palestinian border. We thought Iraq and Afghanistan were bad; this will be worse. Would American forces fire upon Israeli forces? Would a situation like this totally destroy any relationship still existing between Israel and the United States?

I also see such a declaration, if it comes to pass, to be the match that lights the fuse of what we know as the Psalm 83 War. All the pieces are in place; just lacking the trigger mechanism.

What can you do? First, you can pray for Prime Minister Netanyahu, that he will remain firm in his resolve on behalf of the people of Israel. You can pray that American leadership will stand firmly behind Israel and not waver in the face of worldwide opposition. Second, you can write your legislative leaders and encourage them to tell our American Ambassador to the United Nations to veto any proposal toward a unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state.

One other interesting piece of news, not reported by the Main Stream Media. Iranian General Mohammed Reza Naqdi, commander of Iran's Basij (volunteer) forces, announced that he is ready to dispatch Iranian forces to London to act as peacekeepers. He told the Iranian Fars news agency last Thursday, "If the UN General Assembly approves, the Basij Organization is ready to send a number of Ashura and al-Zahra brigades to Liverpool and Birmingham as peacekeepers to monitor observation of human rights laws and deter use of force." Friends, that would be like having the fox guard the hen house. Protecting human rights? From a nation that has violated every human right known? From a nation that is still executing people every day as a means of quelling unrest in its own country? Oh the world has gotten crazy!

Friends, it is time we steadfastly keep our eyes on Jesus. These are not days to waver in our focus. If we do, the waves of the turmoil around us will suck us under. It is time that we warn others of the dangers of continually neglecting Jesus as there is not much time remaining.