For the past two years, during the Palestinian Authority campaign for recognition as an independent state, Palestinian President Abu Mazen was a “star” at the annual gatherings of the United Nations General Assembly. Actually, the Palestinian issue as a whole was the focus of international attention. This diplomatic maneuver was only partially successful. The Palestinian Authority obtained observer nation status at the UN, but it was not granted recognition as a full member. The week of Sept. 26, Abu Mazen stood yet again before the countries' representatives at the UN. But this time, more pressing issues such as Iran and Syria thrust his speech to the agenda sidelines.
Did the maneuver to obtain observer nation status, which put the Palestinian Authority on a collision course with the Obama administration, really advance the Palestinians’ standing as a nation? Did it improve the economic situation of the people in the West Bank and bring the Palestinian Authority any closer to becoming a viable state? Not at all. Now, one year later, Abu Mazen told his UN audience that the Israelis and Palestinians are engaged in a dialogue, but he also cast doubt on whether this dialogue would lead to any real achievements.