The Global Research in International Affairs (GLORIA) Center would like to share with you a new publication containing response strategies for the upcoming unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state at the United Nations on September 20th 2011.

The new e-book is called: The Israel Advocacy Primer: How Do We Deal With September?

The file is attached in PDF Format to this email.

If you have trouble accessing the file you can download it here: http://www.gloria-center.org/IsraelAdvocacyPrimer.pdf

INTRODUCTION

Israel is at war. While there is no question of its ability to protect itself from military assaults and terrorism, it faces a different kind of battle that is more difficult to manage and for which Israeli leaders are less prepared.

This is an unprecedented battle for international public opinion, support from other countries, and the country’s ability to engage in commerce, cultural exchanges, and the basic activities of a conventional democracy. The battle fronts in the struggle include the media and college campuses, supermarkets and stores, political parties and parliamentary debates.

It is even more pressing now than ever before. With the Arab Spring and the Palestinian’s quest for UN support for Palestinian statehood, Israel and its supporters must be prepared to defend its rights.

This is a struggle that must largely be carried out by Israel’s supporters, regular people like you. You can be involved by teaching and learning; contacting the mass media and creating new social media; buying Israeli products and fighting boycotts. The direction of events and the success of this battle are largely in your hands.

In September 2011, at its annual meeting, the UN plans to vote on whether to grant the Palestinian Authority’s request for membership in the United Nations, effectively recognizing a Palestinian State. To become a member state, it must be approved by the Security Council as well as two-thirds of the General Assembly.

While the United States has the power to block the Palestinians from full membership by vetoing a security Council vote, the Palestinian Authority can still seek to gain non-member state status which only requires approval by two-thirds of the General Assembly. This would allow Palestinians to join UN bodies and participate in UN conventions. As one example, the Palestinians will be able to bring cases in the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice.

But such a vote comes with consequences. Many media outlets report that there is a high risk of violence by the Palestinians in an effort to claim a state for themselves. It will provide incentive for the Palestinians to act violently to show their disdain for Israel’s occupation of the West Bank. A lot of civilians will be at risk if violence escalates. There is a high probability of riots breaking out and complete turmoil in the region. It could even lead to a third intifada.

In addition to the probability of violence, a UN vote will only serve to push back the peace process. The Palestinian Authority will no longer have to negotiate and compromise with Israel to get what they want: their own state. A lasting peace can only result from negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, with concessions being made on both sides. If the UN votes in favor of a Palestinian state, the Palestinian Authority won’t need to come to the negotiating table to gain recognition and more prominence on the world stage. While Israel is constantly looking for a partner to negotiate a bilateral peace agreement, the Palestinians would rather look towards the UN for a unilateral decision on Palestinian statehood.

In the attached 46 page e-book you can find the following issues presented:

1. INTRODUCTION – What are we facing before, on and after September 20th?

2. UN RECOGNITION OF A PALESTINIAN STATE

3. DISTINGUISHING THE ISSUES

4. THE BACKGROUND TO THE CONFLICT

5. TURNING POINT: THE ARAB REJECTION OF PEACE IN 2000

6. REASONS FOR ANTI-ISRAELI BEHAVIOUR

7. EXAMPLES OF BIAS AGAINST ISRAEL

8. MEANS OF DELIVERING BIAS

9. DELEGITIMIZATION

10. BDS RESOURCES

11. RESPONDING TO MEDIA BIAS

12. SAMPLE PRESS RELEASES

13. NEW STRATEGIES

14. THE SOCIAL MEDIA REVOLUTION

15. RESOURCES

16. APPENDIX OF USEFUL ARTICLES

If you have any questions about the primer or would like more information about our publications please feel free to contact me at the address rgregg@idc.ac.il.

Thank you,

Gregg Roman
Director of Development
GLORIA Center, IDC Herzliya
+972-54-678-5250
www.gloria-center.org