Sir, – In my view there are three inescapable facts in relation to the Israeli-Palestinian question.
First, that the state of Israel is a legal state in international law, however unlike every other state in the UN, it does not define its borders.
Second, Palestinians are also entitled to claim their existence as a nation under principles of self-determination laid down in the Montevideo Convention 1933. In support of this fact, the European Union, in the principal statement of its Badinter committee 1991 (the basis of the founding of the former Yugoslav states )follows the Montevideo Convention in its definition of a state: by having a territory, a population, and a political authority. The committee also found that the existence of states was a question of fact, while the recognition by other states was purely declaratory and not a determinative factor of statehood. As a consequence of this, the Palestine state is entitled to become a full member of the UN, regardless of the opinion of the US or in fact Israel.
Third, it is clear that bilateral negotations, principally mediated by the US, have continually failed. In the interest of both states, it is time for the wider world to consider this issue within the unbiased principles of International law.
By reasoning of the above I submit the following: Israel and Palestine are both states in fact. Over the last 50 years the Palestinian people have been refused the right to self-determination. This has allowed a borderless Israel to colonise their land and call it their own by virtue of settlement. As a full UN member the Palestinian state would be entitled to refer the question of the illegal occupation of Palestinian land, as defined in the United Nations Resolution 242, to the UN General Assembly. International law is inescapable and must be followed by the nations of the world. Should US veto the Palestinian entry to the UN, it would disregard and offend every nation founded upon self-determination and indeed the principal of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness contained in the US Declaration of Independence. – Yours, etc,