The Palestinian Authority is making a bid for full U.N. membership, stating it is the most viable option at this time. Other options could include return to negotiations, surrender, return to violence, or an appeal to the international community. A P.A. official stated that Palestine has cultivated a "culture of nonviolence" under current leader Mr. Abbas and that Israel is not willing to make necessary compromises that would make negotiations a feasible option. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed that he thinks their bid for U.N. membership is futile, but that Mr. Abbas left a door open for future progress in the peace procress.

I'm not sure if the bid has a realistic chance of getting through the Security Council, as the U.S. is unlikely to support it. I'm not sure what the actual implications of gaining full U.N. membership would be, either. Would that mean the international community would officially recognize Palestine as a sovereign state? Is that even possible without a definitive territory? I believe Israel would react negatively to the success of their bid and peace in the Middle East would be on more of a tipping point than it normally is. However, I am not sure what other resort the Palestinian Authority really has at this point after over half a century of fighting to re-establish a Palestinian state in that area. Gaining full U.N. membership would at least give them more of an equal stand in the international community, even if it doesn't actually gain them the full powers and independence of a sovereign state. Its one step in the right direction, for Palestine.