Many facets to Abbas' U.N. move, analysts say

[bemildred]

(CNN) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' ambitious push to gain full U.N. membership may seem unrealistic, but analysts say he is making hard-nosed calculations rooted in domestic politics.

"This is a move born of frustration," said Steven Cook, a senior fellow for Middle Eastern studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, referring to the consternation over dormant and deadlocked Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

"Right now, he's thinking about his domestic political situation in order to maintain his position," Cook said. "So he's not eaten alive."

The United States has vowed to block a Palestinian membership application should it reach the U.N. Security Council.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/22/world/meast/un-palestinians-abbas/

[Jefferson23]

1. +1

"This has been a smart political move," Shaikh said. "What they are doing is they are effectively bringing an end to a U.S. monopoly on peacemaking. They are internationalizing it."

[bemildred]

2. Longish, covers the bases fairly well, not a polemic.

I though it was a good update on the situation.