By Crispian Balmer
JERUSALEM | Fri Nov 30, 2012 9:58am EST
JERUSALEM Nov 30 (Reuters) - The margin of Israel's defeat in a U.N. vote that granted de-facto statehood to Palestine has disappointed Israeli political leaders, whose attempts on Friday to play down the loss could not disguise its significance.
The United Nations General Assembly voted on Thursday to upgrade the Palestinian status in the world body, making it a "non-member state". The decision was backed by 138 nations against 9 opposed, with 41 members abstaining.
On the ground nothing has changed. Israeli army checkpoints remain in place across the West Bank, Jewish settlers continue their daily lives and the Israeli government warns that lasting peace is more remote than ever.
But the fact only three major countries sided with Israel -- the United States, Canada and the Czech Republic -- underscored how isolated Israel has become on the international stage when it comes to peacemaking with the Palestinians.
"Even old friends like Germany refused to stand alongside us. There were external factors, but it is hard not to see this as a total failure for our diplomacy which will obviously have consequences," said a senior official, who declined to be named.
Government spokesman Mark Regev said that although Israel was "disappointed" by the vote it was not surprised.
"The General Assembly can resemble the theatre of the absurd, which once a year, automatically approves ludicrous, anti-Israeli resolutions. Sometimes these are supported by Europe, sometimes they are not," he said.
Nonetheless, analysts said the vote exposed the gulf that has opened between Europe and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over his handling of the Western-backed administration of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and the depth of EU opposition to Jewish settlement expansion.
TIPPING POINT
Direct peace talks collapsed in 2010 in a dispute over settlement building in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem -- land Palestinians say belongs to them.
EU diplomats warn of an approaching tipping point whereby it will soon be impossible to carve out a viable independent state.
"The government has failed to appreciate the gravity of the challenge to Israelâ
JERUSALEM | Fri Nov 30, 2012 9:58am EST
JERUSALEM Nov 30 (Reuters) - The margin of Israel's defeat in a U.N. vote that granted de-facto statehood to Palestine has disappointed Israeli political leaders, whose attempts on Friday to play down the loss could not disguise its significance.
The United Nations General Assembly voted on Thursday to upgrade the Palestinian status in the world body, making it a "non-member state". The decision was backed by 138 nations against 9 opposed, with 41 members abstaining.
On the ground nothing has changed. Israeli army checkpoints remain in place across the West Bank, Jewish settlers continue their daily lives and the Israeli government warns that lasting peace is more remote than ever.
But the fact only three major countries sided with Israel -- the United States, Canada and the Czech Republic -- underscored how isolated Israel has become on the international stage when it comes to peacemaking with the Palestinians.
"Even old friends like Germany refused to stand alongside us. There were external factors, but it is hard not to see this as a total failure for our diplomacy which will obviously have consequences," said a senior official, who declined to be named.
Government spokesman Mark Regev said that although Israel was "disappointed" by the vote it was not surprised.
"The General Assembly can resemble the theatre of the absurd, which once a year, automatically approves ludicrous, anti-Israeli resolutions. Sometimes these are supported by Europe, sometimes they are not," he said.
Nonetheless, analysts said the vote exposed the gulf that has opened between Europe and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over his handling of the Western-backed administration of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and the depth of EU opposition to Jewish settlement expansion.
TIPPING POINT
Direct peace talks collapsed in 2010 in a dispute over settlement building in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem -- land Palestinians say belongs to them.
EU diplomats warn of an approaching tipping point whereby it will soon be impossible to carve out a viable independent state.
"The government has failed to appreciate the gravity of the challenge to Israelâ