If it succeeds, however, then Israel could justify many of its action as clear responses to acts of war, as opposed to the legally marginal state of affairs that predominates currently

Exactly.  It's actually quite a dumb move if you'd think it would pass.

Not to mention even just proposing it basically gives Israel an excuse to tear up previous agreements and press harder.

Either way, it shouldn't be passed because palestine doesn't fit all the criteria for a member state.  One of the main criteria is having set borders... which Palestine doesn't have.  Some are trying to use the 1967 borders, however those borders weren't established in a peace treaty, but instead in a cease fire, that has been broken a couple times since then and a cease fire isn't a legally binding agreement of permanent borders, but just a temporary set of battlelines until the establishment of a peace treaty.

The other step where they fail UN membership is that the vast majoirty of their government has to be stable and for UN Membership.  Hamas while they said they wouldn't block say they are against the UN bid because it doesn't involve Israel and only support a bid that includes all of Israel's land as well.  Without Hamas being for it rather then a "non-observer" it's another step where they fail.

Anyone who votes for recognition wouldn't actually be doing so based on law.

Lets hope America doesn't embarrass itself on the world stage.

Just kidding, we all know they will since they're just a shill for Israel.

As if law was ever the issue. This whole situation is entirely based on power politics and national interest.

If we were to follow the law Israel would have been condemned and hit by sanctions many times over. However they are protected by the US and can get away with bloody murder figuratively and literally.

The result of the vote assuming it goes ahead is very predictable, it will get vetoed by the US while the majority of the world votes in favour of Palestine. All of which will reinforce the fact that the laws are only there to be followed by the weak while the strong do it only when it suits them.

Nah.  There wouldn't be one country in the world who wouldn't act the way Israel is acting right now in a similar position.

As for the majority of the world.  They tend to vote the opposite way of the security council members just for the hell of it anyway.  That's why they've formed one giant block at the UN anyway, something like 127 countries all committed to vote the same way.  It's something like 55% of the UN and they'd all just concede to Iran and the other middleastern nations just for the hell of it to maintain the alliance.

Lol, the UN. Where one of five countries can stop any given action. I have a bit of a soft spot for Israel, and think it's unfair how they get a worse rap than many more deplorable regimes, but even I know that the United States grants Israel the right to do whatever they want.

The Palestinians will receive sympathy, but will come no closer to independence.

Honestly I agree with the US the Palestinian Government did something low.

Firstly the US is absolutely right in the fact that Palestine and Israel need to work this out before applying to the UN. Bringing the issue before the UN is not going to help with getting Israel to negotiate. Its like if your boss doesn't like you and you have a problem with him, instead of trying to negotiate a solution you go with your solution to his boss. Your boss is not going to like you very much and if his boss disagrees with your solution you've just pissed your boss off big time, don't expect any solution or promotion to happen. Basically the Palestinian authority decided instead of negotiating with the Israeli's they would go to the international community to impose their will on Israel. Problem is the US will never let that happen and other UN members are likely to disagree as well. Meaning Palestine just pissed Israel off even more and it won't lead to anything happening.

Palestine's government on the other hand has botched negotiations with Israel for the last decade. Palestine is unwilling to compromise and Israel is also. With both countries unwilling to compromise they have gotten no where, however rather then Palestine compromising the Government decided to go above Israel to get its solution. In other words they went over Israel's head to try and get the UN to recognize the border that Palestine wants and its countries aspirations.

I personally want to see Palestine recognized, but not under the terms the Palestinian Government has put forward and not until Palestine shows that it is willing to compromise and work with Israel. A two state solution needs to be made but the UN cannot take sides for or against Israel. Recognizing the Palestine that their Government wants recognized would be to take over the peace process.

In all honesty Palestine and Israel need to come to this peace agreement and border solutions themselves. There is no quick short cut to the peace process and their will be no results unless the two sides are willing to compromise. I think the UN should be pressuring both sides to compromise and restart the process. But the UN recognizing Palestine would be interfering in those negotiations and do a lot of damage to future prospects of Palestine!

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas makes UN statehood bid

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15033357

*Tagged for later*