Palestine – Israel Has Had Enough

The Palestinian Authority’s decision to unilaterally seek Palestinian statehood at the United Nations and UNESCO – in breach of its obligations under the Oslo Accords and the Roadmap – has propelled Benjamin Netanyahu and Shaul Mofaz into forming Israel’s government of national unity this week…writes David Singer. Read more

Palestine – Two Opportunities Better Missed

Israel’s former Foreign Minister – the late Abba Eban – is remembered for his many wise and pithy comments – of which the following is probably the most memorable:

“The Arabs never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity”…writes David Singer. Read more

Palestine – Statehood Supersedes Oslo Accords and Roadmap

The Middle East changed dramatically with the recognition and admission of the State of Palestine to UNESCO on 31 October 2011 – resulting finally in the achievement of the two-state solution unsuccessfully sought for the last 19 years in negotiations conducted between Israel and the Palestinian Authority pursuant to the Oslo Accords and the Bush Roadmap…writes David Singer. Read more

Palestine: Quartet and UNESCO In Head-On Collision

UNESCO’S  recognition that Palestine is a State has now been totally refuted by the Quartet – America, the Russian Federation, the European Union (EU) and  the United Nations (UN)…writes David Singer. Read more

Palestine is a State – Fact or Fiction?

Recognition of the existence of  Palestine as a State was ostensibly given the international imprimatur  on 31 October 2011 – when 107 countries voted to admit Palestine as the 195th member state of UNESCO…writes David Singer. Read more

Australia Can Rescue UNESCO From Palestine Decision

Australia’s new Foreign Minister – Bob Carr – needs to urgently review the decision adopted by the Australian National Commission for UNESCO (ANCUNESCO) – that the admission of Palestine as UNESCO’s 195th member State was consistent with UNESCO‘s Constitution and its Rules of Procedure …writes David Singer. Read more

Facebook or Facelessbook?

Can anyone out there tell me how I can have direct on-line contact with a real live person at Facebook – not just some anonymous message that is flashed on my screen?…asks David Singer. Read more

Palestine in Tatters – Obama’s Obsolescent Opinion Scarcely Matters

The much vaunted reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah has become yet another missed opportunity and non-event following revelations by the Palestinian Central Elections Commission (CEC) chief electoral officer – Hisham Kuhail – that the May 4 date set for presidential and parliamentary elections in the West Bank and Gaza will not eventuate…writes David Singer. Read more

UNESCO Decision On Palestine Backfires Badly

A report just issued by UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova reveals the extent of the serious crisis facing UNESCO following its decision to admit  “Palestine” as its 195th member State – contrary to the terms of UNESCO’S own Constitution and customary international law…writes David Singer. Read more

UNESCO Must Choose – “Palestine” or the World?

The Obama administration formally announced its intention this week to ask Congress to waive a ban on American funding of 22% of UNESCO’s budget following UNESCO’s decision to admit “Palestine“ as its 195th member state on 31 October 2011…writes David Singer. Read more

UNESCO on the Nose

UNESCO seems set to preside over a looming global humanitarian crisis as it continues to struggle in its efforts to cope with the loss of  $260 million – 22% of its projected budget – until the end of 2013…writes David Singer. Read more

Palestine Poison Pill Paralyses UNESCO

Palestine’s admission as the 195th member state of UNESCO – in possible breach of UNESCO’s own Constitution – has become a very painful poison pill  for UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova to swallow…writes David Singer. Read more

UNESCO Unmoved To Try And End Humanitarian Crisis

 

The Director of the Division of Public Information at UNESCO – Mr Neil Ford – has made it clear that UNESCO still refuses to approach the  Imternational Court of Justice (ICJ) for an advisory opinion on the legality of the admission of Palestine as the 195th Member State of UNESCO…writes David Singer. Read more

UNESCO Commissioner Spells Out Global Fallout From Palestine Decision

Global programs in literacy, gender equality and clean water initiatives will be impacted as a result of America suspending its dues to UNESCO totalling about $225 million dollars until 2013 – according to United States National Commissioner to UNESCO – Emilya Cachapero….writes David Singer. Read more

Palestine Blunder Costs UNESCO $167 Million in 2012-2013

UNESCO’s deficit has skyrocketed from an estimated $120 million to $167 million for 2012-2013 as a result of its decision to admit Palestine as its 195th member in breach of UNESCO’s own Constitution…writes David Singer. Read more

Palestine – Bye Bye Oslo, Hello Jordan and Egypt

Veteran Middle East correspondent Robert Fisk may have been a little premature when he stated on 20 September:
“It’s over: the ‘peace process’, the ‘road map’, the ‘Oslo agreement’; the whole fandango is history”…writes David Singer. Read more

Palestine – Flag Flies, UNESCO Cries, Legality Dies

UNESCO has paid a high price for hoisting the flag of “Palestine” among the 194 other flags flying at UNESCO’s Paris headquarters this week…writes David Singer. Read more

Moriah Band in Israel

The current tour of Israel by Sydney’s Moriah College School Band is offering expat Aussies a taste of home…. Read more

Palestine – Time to tell the Truth

Republican front runner for next President of the United States – Newt Gingrich – has done himself and his campaign great credit in branding the Palestinians as an invented nation…writes David Singer. Read more

Palestine – “End The Occupation” and “Right the Wrongs”

I don’t think there has ever been any Arab propaganda slogan as powerful and successful as “End The Occupation”…writes David Singer. Read more

Palestine – Jordan in Abbas’s Sights?

Jordan’s King Abdullah must now be very concerned at the prospect of the Hashemites possibly seeing an end to their 90 years uninterrupted rule in Jordan…writes David Singer. Read more

Palestine – Abbas Flirts with Political Suicide

Palestinian Authority President – Mahmoud Abbas – is inviting political suicide and an end to the two-state solution – should his planned meeting with Hamas leader Khaled Mashal in Cairo this coming Friday lead to the creation of a new unity government to end the division of power between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Gaza..writes David Singer. Read more

Palestine – TIme to tell the Truth

Republican front runner for next President of the United States – Newt Gingrich – has done himself and his campaign great credit in branding the Palestinians as an invented nation…writes David Singer.   Read more

Palestine – UNESCO Membership May be Unconstitutional

Palestine’s membership of UNESCO could be under serious legal threat – as the vote approving such admission comes under increasing scrutiny…writes David Singer. Read more

Palestine – Warmonger not Peace Lover

Amid all the hogwash that passes for political commentary  – it is apparent that the 15 members of the Security Council are facing a huge dilemma in deciding whether to recommend the admission of Palestine to the United Nations as its 194th member – after deliberating on the application now for more than six weeks…writes David Singer. Read more

Palestine – UNESCO rebuffs PLO huffs and puffs

The PLO application seeking admission of Palestine  to the UN  has been dealt a serious blow  – after 86 of its 193 members failed to support a mirror application for Palestine to join UNESCO…writes David Singer. Read more

Palestine – Peace, Petulance, Posturing and Pollard

Two significant – yet seemingly unrelated – events  have occurred during the past week within the ongoing Jewish-Arab conflict:…writes David Singer. Read more

Palestine – Abbas gets Lost in the Translation

PLO Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has been often criticised for making statements in English that are contradicted by other statements made by him in Arabic. Abbas has continued this art of doublespeak first perfected by his predecessor Yasser Arafat –  tailoring his views to the audience that he is addressing…writes David Singer. Read more

Palestine – Sarkozy Makes Monumental Mistake

France’s President – Nicolas Sarkozy – has made a mistake of historic proportions – possibly dashing any hope of the two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinian Arabs coming to fruition – after he told  the French magazine Le Canard Enchaîne: “It is silly to talk about a Jewish state” …writes David Singer. Read more

Palestine – Fixing the Figures, Fudging the Facts

As the United Nations Security Council and the General Assembly continue to consider the PLO application for the State of Palestine to be admitted as the 194th  member of the UN – there is concern  in Jordan that approval of such application could

1. represent  a distinct threat to continued Hashemite rule in Jordan and
2. challenge Jordan’s right to exist as a viable and independent State within secure and recognized boundaries….writes David Singer. Read more

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