September 20, 2011 
REFUSING TO DIE IN SILENCE – Video
A number of right-wing Republican lawmakers in US Congress have introduced a resolution that would supposedly support an Israeli measure to annex the occupied West Bank if Palestinians persist with their push for UN recognition of an independent state of Palestine.
Illinois Representative Joe Walsh, along with 30 other co-sponsors, introduced the congressional resolution on Monday, the Israeli daily Haaretz reported.
Actually, resolutions passed in the US Congress are non-binding and often attempted to make publicity statements rather than laws. The introduction of resolutions has been widely used by pro-Israeli lawmakers to issues provocative political statements against countries that adopt policies which Israel considers against its interests. The draft of such resolution are commonly written and submitted to Congressional committees by powerful pro-Israeli lobby groups in the US.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has been the prime target of such resolutions in recent years with pro-Israeli lawmakers from both dominant political parties in the US issuing numerous anti-Iran resolutions, mainly to satisfy demands by those that make major contributions to their election campaigns.
Walsh pointed out that the US must put the PA under pressure over its statehood bid, saying, “I would argue that the president (Barack Obama) should make this statement, but he is not capable of making it. So, the House needs to make this statement.”
“If the [Palestinian Authority] continues down this road of trying to get recognition of statehood, the US will not stand for it. And we will respect Israel’s right to annex Judea and Samaria (the West Bank),” he added.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she is in extremely extensive talks with the Israeli regime and the Palestinians to avert a UN vote on the Palestinian statehood.
Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Danny Ayalon has also threatened to sever all economic relations with the Palestinians, if the PA goes ahead with its planned bid.
The Palestinian Authority will formally submit a request to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for approval of Palestine’s membership in the world body on Tuesday, during the 66th session of the UN General Assembly.
The Israeli regime and the US have strongly opposed the move. Washington has already said it will veto any such motion submitted to the UN Security Council (UNSC).
The future Palestinian state would include the West Bank and Gaza, with East al-Quds (Jerusalem) as its capital. The PA says it believes that more than 130 countries would recognize the state of Palestine based on the pre-1967 borders.
However, if the effort is blocked at the UNSC, Palestinians say they will turn to the General Assembly, where they are expected to easily win the vote to upgrade their UN representation from an observer body to a non-member state.
The 66th UN General Assembly, which opens on September 20, is due to vote on a Palestinian state.
ASH/MB
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Occupied Palestine | فلسطين 
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