 Weeks ahead of Israeli elections, Palestinian officials are already plotting a series of tough steps against Israel to be taken if, as polls predict, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is re-elected and peace efforts remain stalled.
Emboldened by their newly upgraded status at the United Nations, the Palestinians are talking of filing war crimes charges against Israel,
| ...so that Israeli leaders could die in five-star hotels in The Hague while awaiting trial... |
staging mass demonstrations in the West Bank,
| ...because nothing says power to the people like a mass demonstration... |
encouraging the international community to impose sanctions,
| ...because the Paleos see the horrible effect of sanctions on the Mad Mullahs™ of Iran, and the modulating effect of sanctions on North Korea... |
and ending the security cooperation that has helped preserve quiet in recent years.
| ...because we all know how impotent the Joooz feel when Paleos get all manly with their gun sex... |
These plans, combined with growing international impatience with Israeli settlement construction, could spell trouble and international isolation for the Israeli leader.
The Europeans, at least, may talk loudly to appease their various antisemitic constituencies, but they salivate at least as loudly over manufacturing partnerships with Israeli technical companies and contracts for Israeli natural gas.
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In a series of interviews with The Associated Press, a number of Palestinian officials all voiced a similar theme: Following the UN General Assembly's recognition of "Palestine" as a nonmember observer state in November, the status quo cannot continue.
| That's true but not in the way they hope... |
"2013 will see a new Palestinian political track. There will be new rules in our relationship with Israel and the world," said Hussam Zumlot, an aide to President Mahmoud Abbas.
| Technically possible, yes. But just how probable, that is the question. Thus far the Palestinians haven't shown competency in calculating probabilities. |
Although the UN vote did not change the situation on the ground, it had deep implications. Opposed by just nine countries, it amounted to a strong international endorsement of the Palestinian position on future borders. It also cleared the way for them to join international agencies to press their grievances against Israel.
Netanyahu has accused the Palestinians of bypassing direct negotiations. |