Candadian-Palestianian Lawyer Discusses Statehood Bid

As Palestine makes its bid for statehood at the United Nations, Palestinian-Canadian attorney Diana Buttu, a fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School, spoke about the challenges facing Palestine at a well-attended lunchtime event at the Belfer Center Thursday.

Buttu discussed five main aspects of the anticipated move by Palestinian authorities to request recognition from the U.N., ranging from Palestine’s history to the implications of the statehood bid for U.S. international relations.

According to Buttu, both internal and external factors have shaped Palestine’s desire for recognition.

Among these factors is the Arab Spring, which has made it “very difficult for Palestinian leadership to be continually seen as an extension of the U.S. or Israeli government. Palestinian [leaders] have to do something different,” Buttu said.

Internally, Buttu said Palestine has faced “complete stagnation” and delays in “elections and municipal elections.” These weaknesses in governance have created a situation in which “Palestinian leadership had to show it was being responsive” and possessed some form of “legitimacy,” Buttu said.

Buttu also said that under current President Mahmoud Abbas of the Fatah party, interest in the bid for statehood has increased, and Palestine has become more defiant.

She criticized U.S. policy toward Palestine, saying that the U.S. has “missed the mark when it comes to the Arab Spring and also Palestine” and that Palestine is “willing to defy” the U.S.

Buttu also noted that some Palestinians are displeased with the current move to request U.N. recognition.

“The bid was put forward without much public opinion. There hasn’t been broad based representation,” Buttu said.

Beyond the Palestinians, Buttu explained that many Israelis were also unhappy with the bid for statehood.

“The idea of Palestinian statehood cuts very deeply into Israeli slogans of ‘There shall never be Palestinian statehood,’” Buttu said.

Buttu’s talk drew some individuals who disagreed with her position.

Adam M. Butensky ’13, who characterizes himself as pro-Israel, said he attended the talk to hear a different perspective on the current controversy. Nonetheless, he said he felt that Buttu misrepresented some facts.

He added that though he supports the creation of a Palestinian state, he believes the request to the U.N. will undermine peace negotiations between the governments of Israel and Palestine.

“There’s a lot of support for the statehood bid because people recognize that the Palestinians should have their own state. Israeli activists agree, but we don’t think the best way to do that is to circumvent negotiation,” he said. “There is a right wing that does say no to a Palestinian state, but they’re right wing. Moderates and Liberals do advocate for a Palestinian state.”

Despite the heated arguments concerning the bid for a Palestinian state, Buttu said she believes that whether or not statehood is granted, conditions in Palestine will remain largely unchanged.