Dec 27,2016 – JORDAN TIMES – Ramzy Baroud
There is no doubt that the UN Security Council condemnation of Israel on December 23 was an important and noteworthy event.
True, the United Nations’ main chambers (the Security Council and the General Assembly) and its various institutions, ranging from the International Court of Justice to the UN cultural agency UNESCO, have repeatedly condemned the Israeli occupation, illegal Jewish settlements and mistreatment of Palestinians.
In fact, unlike the December 23 Resolution 2334, past UN condemnations were far stronger; some resolutions did not ask just for an immediate halt of illegal Jewish settlement construction, but for the removal of existing settlements as well.
There are up to 196 illegal settlements on occupied Palestinian land, in addition to hundreds of settler outposts.
These settlements house up to 600,000 Jewish settlers who were moved there in violation of international law and, in particular, the Fourth Geneva Convention.
So what makes this particular resolution important?
First, the US neither vetoed the resolution nor threatened to use its veto power; nor did it even seriously lobby, as it often does, to soften the wording in advance.
Second, it is the first decisive and clear condemnation of Israel by the UN Security Council in nearly eight years — almost the entirety of President Barack Obama’s terms in office.
Third, the vote was cast despite extraordinary Israeli pressure on the current US administration, on the forthcoming administration of Donald Trump and successful pressure on Egyptian President Abdul Fatah Al Sisi.
Indeed, Egypt delayed the vote, which was scheduled a day earlier, so New Zealand, Senegal, Malaysia and Venezuela stepped up and put the resolution to a vote, a day later.
Doubtless, the UN resolution — like all others — remains rather symbolic as long as there are no practical mechanisms to ensure the enforcement of international law.
Categories: Israel, Palestine, The Muslim Times, United Nations, United States
Yes, it is long overdue to stop relying on US ‘mediation’. US is a party of the problem and not an independent broker.
Since it (USA), uses its veto powers to suit its own selfish ends, it should be removed from being a permanent member of the security council, don’t you think…?!
In fact, why should the UN Security Council have ANY permanent members? Who thought that up? Because, it is liable and proven to be misused by these ‘permanent’ members.
Therefore, the UN cannot practice JUSTICE, ever!!!