Nigeria: Palestine - Give Peace a Chance

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11 October 2011

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editorial

Watching the influencing pattern exhibited by Israel's representatives, most especially its Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, was very worrisome. Also listening to the US President's assertion that it will deny the request by Palestine for statehood, emits intense contradictions for principles it claims to stand for. Was it not the same US President, with his European counterparts that recently supported leadership changes in other Arab nations? Then the question: Why deny Palestine the same aspiration?


Equally disturbing, are the proclamations of some of the US Senators, that they will withdraw funding for the United Nations, if it were to successfully support Palestine's intentions to formally declare its independence, and restructure itself around good governance.
If the aspirations of a suppressed group of people is for the self-determination of its existence, why deny such a group that right? The UN obviously has an obligation to act to protect the suppressed group.


And surprisingly disappointing, is Nigeria's decision to withdraw from this momentous voting process, for unknown reasons. In the recent past, we have seen President Goodluck Jonathan making comments on his unwavering support for universal human rights. Then one begins to question his decision to have conscientiously allowed himself to be influenced, in spite of all evidences that indicate the continued suffering of the Palestinian people. Israel's defense for its objection to Palestine's statehood is that giving Palestine control of territories annexed during the 1967 war would constitute a danger to its security. Let's make one distinction very clear, in our advancing age, the notion of annexing one's territory for the expansion of another's, is a notion that deserves utmost rejection from the world body.
If one argues that Palestine doesn't seem committed to peaceful co-existence with Israel, then can't we also say that the peace process is being negotiated from a position of advantage for the Israelis? Indeed, Israel has the advantage on the bargaining table, making Palestine the weaker partner.

The assembly of leaders must present an opportunity for both representatives of the disputed areas, to present their case, and also for others to understand fully the underlying reason for the decades long conflict. The PLO President, Mahmoud Abbas, presented a speech that evinced sympathy for the cause of his people. It was also clear that Israel's Prime Minister may not have been the appropriate candidate to represent his country on this momentous event. Regardless of the voting pattern, the UN must seek to level the playing field with its member states; in other words, the veto power votes must not be seen an a discriminating factor on such an important issue, of which the United Nations' existence was formed.
Lastly, matters concerning the preservation of human rights, improvement of living standards, and the provision of security, should never be ignored in favour of concessionary promises. Abstaining from the voting process mistakenly reinforces the continual subjugation of the Palestine people. We hope that President Jonathan understands that notion, and realises that peace begins with the tolerance of the other's existence. In clearer terms, Israel must allow Palestine's due existence, and then one can expect a reciprocal