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Back to UNESCO's Future
(Wall Street Journal) Editorial - The Palestinian Authority on Monday took its statehood road show to the Paris-based UN Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and shock, surprise, it found a receptive audience. UNESCO became the first UN agency to accept the PA as a full member. The vote, adopted by 107 to 14 with 52 abstentions, carries unfortunate consequences for the U.S., the UN and the Palestinians. What it won't do is hasten the day that Palestine becomes a state. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas made a fateful decision this year to grandstand in UN halls. In September, the PA applied to the Security Council for full UN membership. The Palestinians know the U.S. will block any Security Council bid, yet they continue to devote their diplomatic energy to winning the nine votes needed to force Washington to wield a veto. On latest count, they're one short. Failing that, the PA will try to get the General Assembly to grant it UN "observer status." Mr. Abbas has thus ensured that Israel won't have any faith in the PA as a negotiating partner anytime soon, and he has expressly tried to embarrass the U.S. Yet Mr. Abbas needs both Israel and the U.S. to gain independence. Readers can draw their own conclusions about what all of this says about Mr. Abbas' willingness to do the hard work necessary to bring about a durable peace with Israel, which is the only way to achieve a Palestinian state.