U.N. President Mahmoud Abbas has urged the United Nations to suspend Israel's membership unless it implements resolutions establishing separate Jewish and Arab states and allows the return of Palestinian refugees. In a speech given during the first official U.N commemoration of the flight of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from what is now Israel following the U.S. partition of British-ruled Palestine 75 years ago, Abbas expressed his dissatisfaction with Israel's actions.
Israel and the United States boycotted this historic commemoration event, while Israel’s UK ambassador had sent letters to General Assembly ambassadors condemning it.
During his speech, Abbas criticized Israel for calling itself "the only democracy in the Middle East," and rejected its insistence that they "made the desert bloom." He emphasized that pre-1947 Palestine was not a barren wasteland but rather a very civilized area with green landscapes marked by lakes, rivers, and fertile land which exported oranges to Europe.
Abbas also clarified that Palestinians are not against Jews as people but are staunchly opposed to Israeli policies: "We do not hate Jews; we merely stand in opposition to their unjust practices."
The call for suspension comes at a time when tensions between Israelis and Palestinians continue to rise due mainly to ongoing conflicts over disputed territories and human rights violations. By urging action by international bodies like the United Nations, Abbas hopes these issues can be addressed through diplomatic means rather than violence or intimidation tactics.
Many supporters around the world hope that this move will put pressure on both parties involved in this longstanding conflict – especially those who have been unwilling or unable so far –to engage in constructive dialogue aimed at finding lasting peace solutions based on mutual respect for each other’s rights as well as understanding differences between cultures present within their respective societies.
However, critics argue such an approach would only further alienate these two nations’ leaders from one another making resolution even more difficult if not impossible down the line.
As the world watches, it remains to be seen what effect Abbas' call for suspension will have on Israel's position, and whether or not this will lead to any change in policy from either side.