Will this increase or decrease the likelihood of terrorist actions in America, Europe and the rest of the world?

If you were a member of a family murdered in this conflict, would you be seeking revenge?

Should Tzipi Livni and Ehud Olmert, be tried for war crimes if or when this conflict comes to an end?

What will the price of oil be in 4 weeks time?

This story in Haaretz from April this year may shed some light on the ICC issue. Palestinians tried to take Israel to ICC over operation cast lead. The ICC turned them down as they were not UN members or observers. This will change over the next few weeks.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/icc-rejects-palestinian-bid-to-investigate-israeli-war-crimes-during-cast-lead-gaza-operation-1.422397

Palestine will get upgraded to UN 'non member' state and have access to ICC.

side issue; side issue; side issue; side issue; side issue; side issue
gets boring reposting the same old thing, doesn't it

Israel Defence Minister Ehud Barak quits politics

The Israeli Defence Minister, Ehud Barak, has announced that he is quitting politics and will not be contesting January's general election.

Mr Barak, a former military chief of staff who served as prime minister from 1999 to 2001, said he would now concentrate on his personal life.

"I want to study, to write, to live and have a good time," he told reporters.

allowing palestians in to the UN would be like puting FOXS in to a chicken coup

hay i for got you are thick .
so i will tell you what it means
the fox would kill the whole lot .

The building of settlements in the West Bank will come under the scrutiny of the ICC as settling an occupied territory is strictly illegal. There have been several UN resolutions regarding settlement building, but there was little that could be done previously. The inclusion of Palestine in the UN creates the possibility of real penalties and about tine too. This is definitely not a side issue. It will be an attempt to hold Israel to account by the rest of the world.

Hays,

Agree with you.

Beginning to get worried.

fred the arse licker

Fred - i agree that many of the settlements on west bank are a disgrace, but though UN may pass any number of resolutions, the chance of israel taking any notice is less than zero ..... USA is spineless, otherwise withdrawal of some aid would sharpen israel's attention very effectively

This is quite a development.

http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=293489

Hamas lends support to Abbas's UN statehood bid

Mashaal calls PA president to back bid in unexpected change of heart; Hamas spokesman Abu Zuhri says group backs any political gain Abbas can achieve at UN "without causing harm to the national Palestinian rights."
The Islamist group Hamas said on Monday it was backing Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas's attempt to win more clout for Palestinians at the United Nations, the latest sign of a rapprochement between the political rivals.

The Palestinians are registered as an observer entity at the UN and Abbas wants to see them upgraded to a "non-member state" in a UN General Assembly vote on November 29, giving him access to other international organizations...........

Cynic,

I hoped that Obama might have brought a breath of fresh air to the problems in the M.E. and had hoped for more from him.

But this is his second period and he has little to lose and therefore not beholding to any groups for re-election.

Again changing US policies probably resembles changing the direction of an oil tanker in shallow water.

(I wouldn't like to hold the hand he has been dealt.)

The M.E. seems to me to be an ongoing powder keg and I understand the emotions behind "family" frictions, only hope that the problems can found without further costs to those on all sides of the borders.

In retrospect, it seems to me, that very few wars and conflicts seem to be justifiable and could probably been avoided if "honest" attempts has been made to resolve the provocations with a mutual respect of one another by all sides.

(The latter is a little difficult sometimes.)

Fred - you live in cloud cuckoo land if you expect normal politicians to be honest, let alone the bunch of zealots and lunatics (on both sides) in m/e .... and don't forget all the outside meddlers who have their ladles in the soup, whose very LAST wish is peace in the region

Cynic,

(I did notice use of "normal".)

My opinion of many of the present and past politicians is, as you may have read, pretty low.

However, there are many in political life holding views similar and dissimilar to mine who I think are honest and "well meaning".

But, if you relate back to previous periods in history, the abuse of power by some of those "political" and "social" elite who were supposed to represent and govern, the level of abuse would seem to me to be diminishing, but there are many jumping on phantom white horses.

Also, many of the onlookers or meddlers, as you recognise, are motivated by personal gain, or greed.

If you look back at the story of those in Hell who were chained together with soup spoons in the chained hand, against those in Heaven who held each others spoons and fed one another, you may see the position I tend to "try" to see the world from.

But, I can be as bloody minded as the next.

Video faked by Dutch TV satire show. Quite a few complaints in Israel media.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFgtUXNzP5w&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Palestinians refuse clause in UN draft barring criminal charges against Israel
Washington had sought to soften wording of draft resolution, but Palestinians submitted final proposal earlier Tuesday and have refused to discuss changes.

American-Israeli efforts to soften the wording of the proposed United Nations General Assembly resolution regarding the recognition of a Palestinian state has failed, an Israeli official said on Tuesday.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/palestinians-refuse-clause-in-un-draft-barring-criminal-charges-against-israel.premium-1.480931

This story shows what a panic Israel and the US are in. Abbas won't retract the bid and won't alter the wording.

THIS IS NO SIDESHOW

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/in-wake-of-gaza-flare-up-u-k-could-support-palestinian-bid-at-un-1.480841

Abbas has submitted the draft resolution earlier than expected and the vote will take place Thursday. The US is desperately trying to find some procedural measure to block the vote. The EU is expected to vote 11 for, 5 against and 11 abstaining. This another blow to the US and Israel. They were hoping for far fewer in favour and less abstains. In fact they may get more in favour on the day.

France has today decided to vote in favour of Palestine. Australia were going to vote against but Julia Gillard's party strongly voted against her yesterday and she will now have to abstain. India, Brazil and South Africa in favour now. The votes against are falling by the hour. One of the benefits of the vote is the increased isolation of Israel.

what will be the true impact on israel if the UN vote goes in favour of the palestinians (very likely at least in some format)? ..... in honesty, probably very little, just as all the sanctions heaped upon saddam hussain and iraq and ditto iran made not the slightest difference

withdrawal of aid is the only thing that will jolt israel, but history has shown that usa is unwilling to take that course ...... it isn't that simple, needless to say, as significantly and permanently weakening israel would just breed even greater unrest in the region

it goes almost without saying that the palestinians (aka hamas) and israel should long ago have entered meaningful dialogue to achieve peaceful coexistence ...... that the one is as intransigent as the other, is plain for all to see

Palestine has had peace talks and then Israel starts building settlements. It is clear that Israel does not want peace but more and more land.

At least 132 countries already recognize Palestine as a state. The figure on Thursday could well be more. That adds up to about 80% pf the population of the world.