Tuesday, February 15, 2011

On the UN Security Council and Israeli Settlements

UN Security Council is expected to vote some time this month on a resolution denouncing Israeli settlements, and though Mr. Obama himself "does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements", the administration is expected to veto the resolution.
Sen. Hilary Clinton has stated (quite justly and objectively) that "New York is not the place to resolve the longstanding conflict and outstanding issues between the Israelis and the Palestinians."
Though some, such as Josh Ruebner for the Huffington Post, have an issue with the Obama administration's attempt at objectivity and commitment to remaining unbiased:
Its absurd threat to veto the upcoming Security Council resolution condemning Israel's settlements demonstrates U.S. contempt for international law and its inability to be a credible "honest broker" for Israeli-Palestinian peace.
'Settlers'
Since when has condemning Israel and favouring one side over another been part of the job of Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking? To expect the American government to solely deny Israelis the right to live in the West Bank or East Jerusalem, without establishing conditions for the Palestinian side, is to support a role as dishonest broker, and to vote for such a resolution would only further isolate Israel from the rest of the world. 


A friendly member of the UN.
I'm confident that the United States, despite everything, will continue to defend Israel from the UN's unjust allegations. Let us not forget that the 'United Nations' is an organization which is comprised of Algeria, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, and Yemen. 
Let us also not forget that, even with the UN enforcing resolutions, the PA has shown that they are refusing any offer of a settlement freeze, if it requires them to recognise Israel as a Jewish state. 
Seems like just another UN attempt to rush to condemn Israel, without actually taking note of either side's concerns and interests.


~nana tea~ 
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1 comment:

  1. nsjaphetFebruary 18, 2011 at 8:40 AM

    I completely agree. While I think that the only chance for peace has to come by Israel and Palestinian efforts alone, and not US, the US's role as honest broker is not to pressure one side over the other. This was conclusively proven when the US forced the settlement freeze, the Palestinians refused to show up to negotiations.
    Furthermore, all attempts to paint Israel as "violating international law" are political doublespeak as Israel is about the only country which has at least attempted to resolve some of the resolutions raised against it. Other countries, like Lebanon, have completely ignored UN Security Council resolutions, for example the resolution against rearming Hezbollah.

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