dagblog - Comments for "Israel vs the United Nations: The More Things Change, the More They Don't"

I got your solution right

jollyroger — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 08:04:45 +0000

In reply to Israel vs the United Nations: The More Things Change, the More They Don't

I got your solution right here:

The United Semitic Peoples' Kemalist Republic.

One semite, one vote. One state, no Yahwists.

(oh, and, btw-no apartheid. That's the one semite/one vote part)

As the estimable T. Friedman would have it,

"Suck on this" , Zionist gangsters

...advance the peace

NCD — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 06:01:47 +0000

In reply to The peace "process" is to

...advance the peace (settlement) process..like real authentic imitation leather, or certain to make one feel more healthy looking!.

The peace "process" is to

acanuck — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 05:22:20 +0000

In reply to The US veto is in from AOL

The peace "process" is to actual peace what "processed cheese products" are to cheese. A cheap, synthetic, tasteless imitation that looks a bit like what it mimics. But which fools nobody who likes cheese! Hearing the words "advance the peace process" actually pisses me off.

The US veto is in from AOL

NCD — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 00:32:43 +0000

In reply to Israel vs the United Nations: The More Things Change, the More They Don't

The US veto is in from AOL News:

The U.S. opposes new settlements but says taking the issue to the U.N. will only complicate efforts to resume stalled negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians on a two-state solution.

..as if building more settlements is less 'complicating' than passing UN Resolutions that follow international law on seizing occupied territory. The chance of a peace agreement and a 2 state 'solution' is less likely than a snowstorm in Phoenix in July.

I think they already tried

acanuck — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 23:47:09 +0000

In reply to I guess the usual way this

I think they already tried that tack. Hillary Clinton and Obama are both reported to have had long phone calls with Abbas, urging him to settle for a "non-binding" UN statement that the U.S. wouldn't have to vote on. Abbas refused, basically pointing to what happened in Tunisia and Egypt. American support is worth spit if you have to flee your own country.

I'm confused now. I'd read

we are stardust — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 23:40:43 +0000

In reply to Israel vs the United Nations: The More Things Change, the More They Don't

I'm confused now. I'd read this yesterday at FP Magazine, and it was announced that Obama's supporting the Security Council's statement that "reaffirming that the 15-nation body "does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlement activity," a move aimed at avoiding the prospect of having to veto a stronger Palestinian resolution calling the settlements illegal. (my bold)

A bit different from what you found, and I don't see the big rebuke, but at least it's something. But why the reversal? Besides being the odd-nation out on the matter...does Rice see the future in the ME? Now that there might be a second Democracy? I'd been hoping that events in Egypt might have a medium-term beneficial effect on the peace process.

http://turtlebay.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/02/16/in_major_reversal_us_to_rebuke_israel_in_security_council

Along that line, here's a thoughtful piece by Dov Waxman saying how things might go better for Israel if they could see it:

"Instead of immediately dismissing Arab public opinion in Egypt and elsewhere as hopelessly and unremittingly anti-Israeli, Israeli Jews should recognize that what Israel does - not simply what it is - shapes public opinion in the Arab world, and in the rest of the world too for that matter. Rather than desperately hope that somehow the rising tide of democratic change in the Middle East can be held in check, Israelis need to seriously think about how they can improve their relations with Egyptians and other Arab publics. To be sure, this will not be easy to do. Egyptians, like Arabs across the Middle East and beyond, have a very negative view of Israel and of Israeli Jews. More than anything else, Israel's continuing occupation of the Palestinian territories is responsible for this (but it is not the only factor). By ending the Occupation, therefore, Israelis can make peace with the Palestinians and finally begin to really make peace with Egyptians as well.

Unfortunately, Israelis now seem to be drawing the opposite conclusion. The political upheavals and turmoil in the region are regarded by many as yet another reason not to carry out any risky territorial withdrawals in the future. They are pining their hopes on the military maintaining power in Egypt, whether openly or behind the scenes, and other pro-Western authoritarian regimes weathering the storm of protest they are now facing."

http://mideast.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/02/18/israel_s_demophobia

Hope I can remember to come back and see if you have any thoughts on any of this. Doubtful? Mebbe. ;o)

I guess the usual way this

Michael Maiello — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 21:40:00 +0000

In reply to Israel vs the United Nations: The More Things Change, the More They Don't

I guess the usual way this plays out is that the administration calls Abbas and says "You know we give you a lot of money, right? And money is worth more than this U.N. Resolution, right? So how about you withdraw the U.N. Resolution, spare us the uncomfortable vote and you can have some more money!"

Agreed, with a quibble. The

Michael Wolraich — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 21:03:47 +0000

In reply to "...the idea that Israel's

Agreed, with a quibble. The justification for the Iraq War wasn't senseless. It was a lie. If Saddam Hussein had really possessed WMDs, and if he had actually been in league with Al Qaeda, then attacking Iraq might have made some sense.

But the claim that America should support Israel's settlement construction isn't a lie. It's simply absurd.

According to Xinhua: "The

acanuck — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 20:53:00 +0000

In reply to Israel vs the United Nations: The More Things Change, the More They Don't

According to Xinhua: "The U.S. administration told the Palestinian leadership during intensive discussions that it will veto the resolution," said Yasser Abed Rabbo, a member of Palestine Liberation Organization's executive committee.

So Israel has nothing to worry about, except that its only important ally is further isolated, weakened and embarrassed on the world stage.

Thanks for posting the full text. Pretty tame stuff, eh? A lot of reaffirming, reiterating and urging people to do what they've already promised to do. Nothing the U.S. hasn't declared publicly to be its position. The resolution doesn't even condemn Israel, as some lazy people are saying. It condemns continued settlement expansion, but even that rebuke is relegated to a subordinate clause.

When will the U.S. decide to get serious about whether it wants the Israeli-Palestinian issue settled?

"...the idea that Israel's

NCD — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 20:15:53 +0000

In reply to Israel vs the United Nations: The More Things Change, the More They Don't

"...the idea that Israel's settlements are essential to American interests is senseless." Of course that is true, as senseless as the idea that invading Iraq was essential to protect out freedoms. Both, however, make for good political jujitsu, aka Blowing Smoke, for use in attacking anyone who disagrees, and points out the real truth.

Israel thrives on the continuation of tension, the lack of a defined border, the ability to perpetuate the disenfranchisement of millions under its control, and the exclusive right to take whatever land or resources it wants to in eretz Israel. Arab rulers in the region have no more desire for self-determination to be granted to Palestinians than they do to to Bahrainis or Libyans. They would just as soon Israel hold the keys to the prison as some Arab dictator.

The fantasy of an Israel forever hanging by a frayed thread helps to raise contributions from Zionists abroad, and keeps US billions flowing every year. Perhaps the only non-Palestinian people in the region who endeavor to protect the rights of Palestinians from the IDF and the juggernaut of bigoted settlers and their ever expanding settlements are the Jews of Gush Shalom.