US blocks UN call for restraint

[cal04]

THE United States has blocked an overnight Security Council statement that would have urged Israel to refrain from "excessive use of force" against the Palestinians. The text, under negotiations for the past three days by the 15-member council, came in response to intensive Israeli bombardments of the Gaza Strip over the past few days aimed at putting an end to rocket firing by Palestinian militant groups.

Fifteen Palestinians were killed in Israeli air and artillery strikes over the weekend. The draft text would have called on Israel "to refrain from excessive use of force" and on the Palestinian Authority to "take a clear public stance against violence." "The draft text that was negotiated was not fair and balanced and consistent with our long-standing policy. We are not prepared to support a text that distorts the reality in the region," US Ambassador John Bolton said after council consultations on the issue. "We did reject it."

"A lot of changes were made but the balance of the text was still not adequate in our view. We think it was disproportionately critical of Israel and unfairly so and needlessly so," he added. Palestinian UN representative Ryad Mansour, who had pushed for council action, said the council's 14 other members had shown "a tremendous amount of understanding and flexibility". "But unfortunately one member (the United States) is shielding and protecting Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people in Gaza and other parts of the occupied territory," he added

Mr Mansour said that at the initiative of the nonaligned movement, the Arab UN group, the Organisation of the Islamic Conference and others, the Security Council would hold an open session on the Middle East Monday. "We will see representatives who will speak on behalf of maybe more than 150 countries to express their outrage at Israeli aggression and attacks and request upholding of international law," he added. Mr Bolton said he did not think that Monday's meeting would be "productive". "I don't think the Security Council is an exercise in group therapy," he noted.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,18812367-1702,00.html

[swag]

1. Now that's a classic headline.

[Kutjara]

2. Reality

"We are not prepared to support a text that distorts the reality in the region," says Bolton.

This was taken out of context. The report obviously left "unless it's written by us" off the end.

[Violet_Crumble]

3. Bolton's a fucking hateful wanker...

Which is why I'm not surprised that he'd behave in such a disruptive manner when it comes to the UN doing what it's supposed to do...

Violet...

[madeline_con]

4. "... disproportionately critical of Israel ..."

IOW, their asses weren't being sufficiently smooched. :puke:

[Malikshah]

5. And how is this different from any other day?

Bolton or no Bolton. We carry the water. From the late 1960s on, we have carried so much water.

So much.

And we're still thirsty.

How is that?

[ShockediSay]

6. Guess if there was a test of the power of the Israel Lobby

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x203228

the army of Abramoffs in AIPAC have come out on top again

[haab]

7. Cheap lives..... not worth protecting... n/t

"But unfortunately one member (the United States) is shielding and protecting Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people in Gaza and other parts of the occupied territory," he added

[Coastie for Truth]

8. What Army of Abramoffs, try the army of Halliburton's clients and Bush's

buddies and Cheney's buddies -- this army - the one that says is "Junk Science" and the Arab and American working people.

These are the dudes who drink - as distinguished from where

[ShockediSay]

10. I think we agree

It's the lobbyists and not the majority of Americans, who rule

[Coastie for Truth]

11. Certain Big Business Lobbies in a Big Business Administration and Congress

* American Petroleum Institute
* National Association of Manufacturers
* US Chamber of Commerce
* North American Automobile Manufacturers Association
* American Association of Health Plans (as in the "Harry and Louise" infomercials


Compared to those Big Business lobbies with the Big Business President and the Big Business Vice president and the Big Business Congress - (to use a United States Coast Coast Guard term) - AIPAC would not make a pimple on a Big Butt Bosuns Mate's left butt cheek.

(Working in the Green, Renewable, and Alternative Energy Industry - I have been on the side of the Sierra Club and against the American Petroleum Institute and the National Association of Manufacturers and the US Chamber of Commerce and the North American Automobile Manufacturers Association - on issues like a pilot program of a tiny percentage of "zero emission vehicles." -- Been there, done there, had the colonoscopy without sedative or KY jelly)

[Poll_Blind]

9. The whole world watches these votes and knows who the criminals are.

Israel doing a damned good job of negating all good will toward their little nation. So is the United States.

They will continue to reap the scorn of this entire planet until their heavy-handed, frequently-illegal military actions are stopped.

PB

[Scurrilous]

12. Israel seeks U.N. condemnation

Security Council to convene Monday to discuss Palestinian demands that Israel be condemned for military actions in Gaza two weeks ago; Israel hoping to use opportunity to condemn Tel Aviv bombing

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3240986,00.html

<snip>

"Israel turned to the United Nations Security Council Monday demanding the world body condemn the suicide bombing attack in Tel Aviv that killed nine people.

The Council was already set to convene Monday to discuss Palestinian demands that Israel be condemned for military actions in Gaza two weeks ago, and Israel is hoping to turn the tables by using the opportunity to pass a decision condemning the Palestinians.

Under instructions from Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Israel's U.N. Ambassador Dan Gillerman asked the Security Council to condemn the attack. Israel also turned to the United States and to European members of the Security Council, including France, Britain and Denmark, and in the evening hours an informal meeting was held at the American embassy to pen a draft resolution condemning the attack.

Last week the United States vetoed a statement by the President of the Security Council condemning IDF operations. After the Arab lobby that pushed for the resolution realized that America will use its veto right, lobby members demanded the Security Council meet and intended to use the stage for the purpose of speeches by Arab U.N. envoys to condemn Israel."

[MrPrax]

13. Pre-Meditated and Tragic...

Why anyone would think that peace or anything could be negotiated against a backdrop of starvation, violence and sanction is insane.

Israel wants to destablize the occupied territories and has run out of options diplomatically in the Quintet and elsewhere. If it is the SC and it's ONLY the US, then Britain, Russia, China, etc must have endorsed this rather sheepish response.

The 'ramped up' violence/sanctions in the westbank and gaza strip seems deliberate and provocative and done entirely to move away from any 'peace' process.

[barb162]

14. Have you heard Zahar talking lately? Doesn't sound to me like

he wants to reach a two state solution. Hamas mentioning their stance on the suicide bombing today didn't sound like they wanted to reach a peaceful solution either.