Palestine, the United Nations and the role of external actors: where does that leave Europe?

EuroMesCo Policy Brief nº 16/2011

The bid for recognition presented by the President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas at the United Nations General Assembly last week represented a diplomatic testing ground for traditional stakeholders in the Middle East Peace Process. The outcome of negotiations at the United Nations Security Council is still unclear. Regardless of whether the necessary 9 votes to start the voting process are secured, and thus the US is forced to exercise its veto, Abbas´ tour de force at the UN has altered the diplomatic position of the United States, Europe and other major powers in the peace process.