A clear-eyed view from The Commentator

Why others can't see what writers for both The Henry Jackson Society and The Commentator is beyond me. But then I'm just a retired academic, not a politician, ideological journalist (yes, you, BBC and The Guardian) or even , heaven forfend a "statesman" (or woman).

This is part of what Emanuele Ottolenghi has to say in the article below: "Mahmoud Abbas’ diplomatic victory does not deliver a state on the ground. It does not alter the balance of forces between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. It does not solve the power deadlock between the PA government in the West Bank and the Hamas government in Gaza. It certainly does not restore Abbas’ rule over Gaza. And it definitely will not bring peace closer."

He also goes on to say "What the latest chapter of Palestinian efforts to push others to deliver them a state does is to increase the theatrical aspect of Palestinian statehood – all the paraphernalia of a state, without a state. Adding an observer seat, along with the Vatican, on the UN roster will no doubt boost the Palestinian ego – and empower the PLO to sue Israel in the International Criminal Court. But independence, as in the past, will remain elusive. All this was avoidable..."

Read the rest of this masterly 'tour d'horizon' here.

By: Brian Goldfarb