US backing of Israel augurs more unrest
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Once again the US, followed by its loyal ally Australia, has voted in the UN Security Council against a resolution presented by Jordan demanding an end within three years to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.
US envoy Samantha Power said she voted against the motion not because the US is comfortable with the status quo but because peace must come from hard compromises that occur at the negotiating table.
If the Americans are unhappy with the present situation, why on earth don’t they exert pressure on Israel to move toward those compromises? They could start with the freezing of settlement expansion in the occupied territories, the withdrawal of the Israeli forces of occupation from the West Bank and the lifting of the blockade imposed on Gaza.
Such measures, along with recognition of the state of Israel by the Palestinians and the cessation of hostilities, would give the chances for a definitive and lasting peace in the area a much better chance of success.
As a consequence of the Security Council vote, the Palestinian Authority has applied to join the International Criminal Court in The Hague to pursue war-crime charges against Israel. In retaliation, Israel has halted transfers of the tax revenue it collects on behalf of the Palestinians. What right does Israel have to withhold this money belonging to the Palestinians? Senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat has called it an act of piracy and a “collective punishment” against the Palestinian people.
It is one more example of Israel’s bullying, aggressive and intimidating behaviour toward the Palestinians and should be sanctioned by the United Nations. It is high time Israel’s great and powerful protector/sponsor, the United States, made it crystal clear to Israel that “might is not right”.
Edward B Duhigg
Bangkok
