All alone on Israel island

[Jefferson23]

The US' veto next week at the UN will be the 43rd time it has been the solitary veto on resolutions condemning Israel.

Yousef Munayyer Last Modified: 18 Sep 2011 14:21

Solitude and Absurdity. Perhaps no two other words better described the scene at the United Nations earlier this year when US Ambassador Susan Rice raised her hand with a reluctant expression on her face to veto a Security Council resolution condemning Israeli colonial expansion. Fourteen of the fifteen members of the UN's most important body voted for this resolution save the United States.

The absurdity? The resolution was pieced together using language from speeches and statements American principals have made regarding Israel's illegal colonies. Susan Rice was effectively vetoing American policy and then found herself in the peculiar position of explaining why the US was against settlements despite vetoing the resolution.

The United States does not want to see another episode of this saga - let's call it Israel Island - repeated when the Palestinians bring their application for membership to the United Nations this week. No government enjoys isolation, especially not in today's interdependent and interconnected world and certainly not a leading power in world politics.

With Arab publics clearly asserting their influence in Arab politics today more than ever and with Palestine continuing to be the tie that binds Arab nations, the United States knows that being an impediment to Palestinian self-determination on an international stage is only becoming costlier.

in full: http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/09/201191785718812831.html

[leveymg]

1. No Survivor in this episode.

Lose-lose for Israel and the U.S. - the rest will simply go their own ways without us. What a tragic, stupid mistake.

Only shows how dysfunctional and self-destructive our so-called democracies have become.

[Jefferson23]

2. The title of the OP is fitting, sad to say, yes. n/t

[hack89]

9. They can't go their own way without Israel

unless the status quo in regards to borders, RoR and Jerusalem are acceptable to the world.

[Violet_Crumble]

3. Thanks for posting that. I'd forgotten the veto of the resolution condemning settlement expansion...

Absurdity is pretty much how I'd describe the US habit of voting against it's own policy in the Security Council...

[Jefferson23]

4. You're very welcome. I think the OP is an important reminder of why we

are perceived as we are. The toxic/dysfunctional friendship continues for how much longer, I wish I knew.

[oberliner]

5. There is not going to be a US veto next week

Sort of makes the entire article moot.

[Jefferson23]

6. Moot to point out that the US veto's all these resolutions, that is laughable. n/t

on edit for clarity.

[oberliner]

7. No - that's just a lie

Check the record.

[Jefferson23]

8. I don't do your fact checking for you. n/t

[oberliner]

11. Apparently not for Yousef Munayyer either

Oh well.

[Jefferson23]

15. You are free to post support for your claim but you have decided not to. n/t

[Violet_Crumble]

10. I don't think any of us know for sure what will happen...

I really don't think any of us are in a position to say what will happen one way or the other. We can make educated guesses, but there's no certainty in it at all...

[oberliner]

12. I have a good prediction percentage

I like my chances.

[Violet_Crumble]

13. LOL.I'd make a bet with you on this one, but I'm not sure myself how it'll pan out...

I suspect it's going to depend a lot on how what the text of what Abbas tables is worded, and also how much diplomatic clout the US has in reserve when it comes to cajoling other countries to do what it wants...

[Kurska]

14. Did a memo go out?

I've seen about 4 articles with near exact titles make the exact argument. It seems like it is a matter of "hey if we say this enough and we really hope it is true, it will make it true!".

[Jefferson23]

16. You are free to post support to claim otherwise, yet you have not done so. n/t