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Palestinians Defy the UN Charter


(National Review) David French - Does international law matter? Do UN member states respect the UN Charter? If the UN recognizes the Palestinian Authority, it will violate its own charter and longstanding norms of international law. UN membership is open to "states" only. Granting membership to an entity which cannot meet the most basic and accepted international legal requirements for statehood would not only be a violation of this foundational requirement, it would set a dangerous precedent in international relations. To regard the West Bank and Gaza Strip as a "state" would mean stretching the meaning of the term beyond all reason. If the UN nullifies all objective criteria for statehood - leaving recognition open for all aspiring separatist movements with sufficient political influence - then a multitude of secessionist groups would easily qualify for statehood, whether they be Tibetans, Tamils, Basques, Kurds, or countless others.
2011-09-28 00:00:00
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