PA attempt to upgrade UN status foiled
Israeli delegation to climate change conference thwarts Palestinian envoys' bid to be listed in program as state
The Israeli and US representatives to the United Nations climate change convention thwarted the Palestinian delegation's attempt to upgrade its status to that of a state, if only on paper, Yedioth Ahronoth reported Sunday.
The Israeli envoys to the conference in Durban, South Africa were surprised to find the Palestinian delegation listed as a state instead of an observer entity in the event's program on Saturday. The diplomats informed Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan of the incident and prompted the Foreign Ministry to make efforts to correct the error.
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US Special Envoy for Climate Change Todd Stern threatened that if the listing isn't changed, the US will pull its funding to the UN's climate initiative. The Canadian and Australian delegates warned that they would submit a scathing complaint letter to the UN.
The measures proved effective and after a few hours the listing was indeed revised.
"It saddens me that the Palestinians use such childish tricks," Erdan said. "The Israeli-Palestinian conflict will come to an end only around the negotiating table."
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