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Israel affords Palestinians no rights. Occupation harshness explains what no one should tolerate. Netanyahu and hardline officials around him warned other countries about supporting Palestine's UN upgrade.
Intense efforts are ongoing to block it. The peace process will collapse, they warned. Of course, it never existed, but Israeli officials didn't explain. A third Intifada could erupt, they claim. Again, no explanation followed.
Israeli Foreign Ministry officials also object to the timing. Israel's election campaign will be in full swing. Ministers and Knesset members may vie with each other over who can be tougher.
A former unnamed senior Israeli official said:
"Even today, the atmosphere in the Prime Minister's Bureau is one of 'this time, we'll show them what's what.' Likud ministers will pressure him, the polls will scare him.""And from there it's not far to a response that would bring about a violent conflagration or the collapse of the Palestinian Authority."
Of course, nothing will happen unless Israel and/or Washington push. They've done it so often on any pretext, ones they manufacture, or none at all. Challenges to their authority aren't tolerated. They demand things their way all the time.
Israeli Foreign Ministry officials warned other governments of a scenario under which Israel "goes crazy" following the UN vote. A ministry document said:
"We suggest that the European Union take Israel's political needs into account. Israel is entering a campaign season, and consideration must be given to the fact that its government, too, is liable to find itself under political pressure to respond suitably to unilateral Palestinian moves."
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