For the first time in 36 years, the United Nations Security Council has passed a resolution criticizing the Israeli settlements in the occupied territories, calling them an obstacle to the two-state solution, and calling on Israel to reverse the expansions of the settlements. The vote was unanimous, 14-0, with only the United States abstaining.
The resolution was initially scheduled for vote on Thursday as an Egypt-sponsored measure, but Egypt withdrew it in the face of Israeli lobbying, and a push from US President-elect Donald Trump. The identical resolution was raised today by Malaysia, Senegal, Venezuela, and New Zealand, and finally got its vote.
Israeli officials again scrambled to try to block the resolution, suggesting the US owed them a veto, though that ultimately did not happen. Egypt voted in favor of the resolution despite blocking it yesterday, insisting that the delay was just a “procedural” matter and that Egypt supports Palestinian statehood more than anyone.
US Ambassador Samantha Power insisted that abstaining from the vote was in keeping with long-standing US policy, saying that they agreed with the language of the resolution, and that’s why they didn’t veto it. She also railed against the United Nations in general for not being sufficiently pro-Israel, saying the legitimacy of the UN is at stake in allowing such resolutions.
Israeli officials have indicated that the resolution will not effect any of their policies, and that they will continue with the expansion of settlements, irrespective of what the UN vote says.
A chanukah gift to the world. Good job USSC.
Here is the text of the resolution:
http://www.timesofisrael.com/full-text-of-unsc-resolution-approved-dec-23-demanding-israel-stop-all-settlement-activity/
It is damn good!
Wow. Obama refused to veto and Trump says things will be different after Jan. 20th. And he didn’t mean in a good way. Cherry pick this one.
Maybe this is why Trump wants to double his nuclear power .
That doesn’t even make sense.
What do you mean this does not make sense . If the Soviet Union was still here and we were going bomb the Soviet Union ? it would take so many bombs . Now if we want to destroy the whole world wont that take about twice as many Bombs ? Sounds like perfect sense to me .
Trump and the American people that voted for Trump want to stand with Israel And it looks like the most of the rest of the world wants to go against Israel . So of course we need a lot more bombs .. I’am just joking but that is the way the rest of the world is voting in the UN
No USA veto ? Unbelievable..
We have to impeach Obama and Bidden before it is to late to veto .
What’s wrong with the vote abstention ?
Israel is a terrorist state that should be held accountable for their war crimes and crimes against humanity….
“Israel” /= “the World Jewish Community.”
Hey, Thomas,
My reply to you last night (12/23) was deleted this morning. I tried to repost it and now my reply is being held for moderation. What gives? Did I make it to antiwar.com the anti-Semite list? Just asking.
And Merry Christmas to you and those you love.
It don’t take much.
Skywalker,
I’m running a little late this morning (as I do most weekends). Usually I get in to moderate the previous evening’s comments that got caught in moderation filters by 6am Eastern or so. Today it was after 10. Sorry about that. There were two versions of your comment, so I approved one and ditched the other since I saw no reason to believe your intent was to post twice.
Thanks, Thomas.
What happened?
Was it a robot or another moderator?
Automatic moderation settings.
Americans get a shakedown every day from the Chosen .
That is why they are Chosen, chosen to show why it is that those most intelligent should never be allowed to hoard the most wealth and thereby gain the most political power.
The best news since 1948 !!
No the worst news I can imagine . Of course Obama is a snake
The MIC loves terrorism. They especially love terrorism when it happens to those they oppose as arranged in Afghanistan by our cabal of 17 agencies of killerspooks… Where is Gaddafi’s/Libya’s gold.. Wasn’t it 87 tons…??? Maybe check the Clinton foundation….
Clinton Foundation … the basement of the bush compound in Maine … you know – the usual suspects…
The General Assembly now needs to pass this resolution and start sanctions against the Israeli Government.
Good start…. next should be war crimes against the Israeli zionists and the US government puppets they control…
How about regime change with a coalition of the more than willing?
It’s sad commentary that the most the United States can do for the Palestinians, after years of complicity with Israeli genocide, is quite literally nothing. Better than another no vote I guess, but not much. Baby steps.
Oh, and you folks forgot to mention Trumps Zionist hissy-fit over the matter. Coincidence? I hope so.
Israel pays high prices for Arabs land often averages about the same as Iowa farmland . The Israel courts honor all The old ottoman empire deeds . 75 % of the Arabs say Israel courts and justice system is OK . I wonder what % of the people in the Arab countries believe their courts and justice system is OK . If Obama refuses to veto the UN resolution declaring a second State out of Israel’s land without Israel permission .. Israel will not honor this resolution anyway . Israel does not steal Arabs land if they have a deed . Israel does not honor Muslim law that says any land ever lived on by any Muslim must be Muslim land for ever . If Russia , China France or England want to honor Muslim law in Israel they should also honor Muslim land laws in their home countries . Trump should perhaps explain what he is going to do to these 4 countries if one of them does not veto this UN resolution .
Thanks for that, Eric. I didn’t realize how lucky the Palestinians are to have such benevolent people like the Israelis colonizing their country.
Yes I don’t think the Muslims will admit it but they are lucky to be living under Israeli rule . look at Syria , Iraq ,and even Egypt and Jordan too .
Yeah, problems kept alive by the imperials and their begger b*tch in the ME.
But, black souls such as you will not see that.
I don’t believe you
It is really easy to understand the UN resolution. The two-state solution for the former British Mandate of Palestine is anchored in the 1947 resolutions which created-in principle-two states. The UN has never accepted that Israel-Gaza is the implementation of these and later resolutions. Hence the UN must consider the status of the so-called “West Bank” to be a territory militarily occupied by Israel. When the Geneva Conventions on warfare and specifically on occupation are applied it is clear that every settlement is illegal. From day one.
The only borders which the UN can legally recognize at this time are the armistice borders negotiated by our own diplomat Ralph Bunche in 1949. For that achievement he got the Nobel Peace Price. All territories ruled by Israel today which are inside the Palestinian area of that agreement are subject to the Geneva Conventions. They are occupied territories. It has taken 67 (!) years for our governments to recognize that simple fact. We are the slowest learners on Earth. Deliberately so.
Anyone can “claim” to speak for anyone. Ineffectiveness at getting your message out does not mean that someone else represents you.
Israel is a state in the Middle East. The “World Jewish Community” is a diverse aggregate of people whose only universally connecting aspect is that they’re Jewish.
one thing that has changed is they are no longer operating under the British justice system but Israeli justice system . Which is a lot better more like the best in the world .
Bomb the bastards.
This act is a gift that will continue to give to President-Elect Trump from President Obama it’s a ball builder.
And in the realm of communication, being incoherent is worse than being silent.
Rogue state with nukes that does not cooperate, respect international law or take orders. This is a recipe for disaster.