What has the US done for Palestine?

A top Palestinian lawmaker, Hanan Ashrawi said Palestinians will ask the United Nations Security Council to impose a three-year deadline for Israel to end the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. Speaking at the UN, she said the Palestinian authority will push for an end to the occupation as well as for International Criminal Court jurisdiction. Ashrawi dismissed the threat of losing US government support.

She also said, “We will be seeking a Security Council resolution on ending the occupation within that specified date. And any solution must be based on international law, cannot violate international law and UN conventions and agreements. If the US wants to isolate itself as a reaction to Palestinians joining the international community, then they are welcome to do that. The American funding is not that essential to Palestinian survival. Enough is enough, and what has the US done for us?”

Ashrawi's comments appear to mark the most forceful public repudiation to date of the Obama administration's policy by a Palestinian leader tied to President Mahmud Abbas. A new poll this week shows Hamas has surged in Palestinian public opinion since the Israeli assault on Gaza. According to the Palestinian Centre for Policy and Survey Research, Hamas would defeat Abbas' Fatah party by a wide margin if national elections were held today.

Ted Rudow III, MA
Palo Alto, CA, USA