Israel - Palestinian tensions

Palestinian Israeli tensions are on the radar again. On Friday, PNA leader, Abbas, submitted an application for Palestinian statehood to the UNSC. He requires 9 votes from the 15 members of the Security Council to get his state. So, whats the problem you ask? Israel, is the simple answer. It does not want a Palestinian state, particularly one that could have friendly ties to Hamas (which wants to destroy Israel) and Iran (which really wants to destroy Israel). So the Abbas move threw a bit of a spanner. The US has recognised the possibility of a conflict, should the bid succeed and are on hand to veto the move. While they've stated they do not want to use it, they certainly will, in my opinion, and Abbas knows it. So why continue? Abbas is desperate. Negotiations between Israel and the PNA are dead in the water as both sides have finally realised each side are unable to compromise - Israel want land for settlements in the West Bank and the Palestinians want land in Israeli occupied territory. While some sort of negotiation may be forthcoming in the next few months, this position is unlikely to change and conflict seems inevitable. Abbas then is playing his one remaining card. His ace in the deck is too power a UNSC vote through, hope that the US don't veto and then hope that Israel doesn't occupy the West Bank and undo all the good work the PNA has done there in recent years. And I for one, do not blame him for this approach. At this most critical of times, when conflict seems so close, Israel continues to authorise settlements. A mere two days after the UN bid Israel authorities gave the green light for 1,100 new settlement structures. Israel may say they want peace, but in reality all they want is everything, and that my dear reader, can lead to only one outcome.