Erekat: US cannot use aid as blackmail against the PA

Palestinian Authority negotiator says there is no pressure from Arab League nations to abandon UN state bid; Arab League sec.-gen. calls on members to bolster aid to Palestinians, AFP reports.  http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=240267

Is the Window Closing on Israel?

In June 1967, with ex-Vice President Richard Nixon, this writer toured an Israeli military hospital full of wounded Egyptian soldiers.

An Israeli officer told us that in the hospital was an Egyptian officer he had captured in the 1956 Sinai campaign, and that he had asked the Egyptian: "We have fought three times now, and three times you have been defeated. Why do you keep fighting us?"

The Egyptian replied, "You may have defeated us three times, and you may defeat us 11 times. But the 12th time we win."   http://news.yahoo.com/window-closing-israel-070000608.html

Fatah leader: Palestine has votes to pass Security Council

UNITED NATIONS (Ma'an) -- A resolution admitting Palestine as a member state of the United Nations has the support of a majority of the Security Council, a top Fatah official said Friday.

"We need the nine votes plus no veto. The nine votes are already there. We hope there will be no veto," said Muhammad Shtayyeh, speaking after President Mahmoud Abbas' address to the General Assembly.    http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=422965