Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Can the Palestinians Create a Peace-Loving State?

May 31, 2011 | Eli E. Hertz

The first paragraph of Article 4 of the United Nations Charter reads:

"Membership in the United Nations is open to all other peace-loving states which accept the obligations contained in the present UN Charter and, in the judgment of the Organization, are able and willing to carry out these obligations." (emphasis added)

Article 2 of the UN Charter calls in paragraph 3:

"All Members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered." The same article calls in Paragraph 4:

"All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations."

Security Council Resolution 1377 demands of members states to:

"Reaffirms its unequivocal condemnation of all acts, methods and practices of terrorism as criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, in all their forms and manifestations, wherever and by whomever committed.

"Stresses that acts of international terrorism are contrary to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and that the financing, planning and preparation of as well as any other form of support for acts of international terrorism are similarly contrary to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations," (emphasis added)

The Palestinian Authority (PA) is emerging as a union of Hamas and Fatah, two groups that have proven to promote terror and thwart any chance for genuine peace. A minimum requirement to join the United Nations Family of Nations is to first and foremost be a "peace-loving state." Can the Palestinian Arabs achieve it? Can they reverse decades of horrendous act of terror in just three short months?

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