Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011
THEN
Nov. 29, 1947, the United Nations agrees to partition Palestine in a vote of 33 to 13 with two abstentions and one absent. The vote is highly controversial and strongly opposed by Arab nations. The U.N.’s decision partitions Palestine into two sections—creating the Jewish state of Israel. The partition comes amid intense conflict between the Arab and Jewish populations in Palestine. Prior to the U.N. resolution, Britain controls the territory of Palestine through a mandate but is unsuccessful in creating peace in the conflicted region. In 1948, after Britain’s mandate expires, the Jewish Agency proclaims the establishment of the State of Israel, but the day after the controversial proclamation troops from five Arab nations—Syria, Transjordan, Egypt, Iraq, and Lebanon—invade the region. In the years following the U.N. partition, relations between Arabs and Jews in the region remain volatile with violent conflicts.
NOW
In September, Palestinian officials submitted a bid for full membership with the United Nations. Earlier this month, the bid went to the U.N. Security Council, which needs to recommend the bid for it to pass. This is not likely to happen, with several countries not likely to support the bid and France and Britain saying they will abstain. The United States has also said it will veto Palestinian membership in the U.N. at this time. Palestine still has the option not to press the Security Council to vote. In October, the U.N.’s education, science, and culture organization, UNESCO, granted Palestine full membership despite strong U.S. objections.
