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Security Council To Vote On Illegal Israeli Settlements |
By
Stephen Lendman |
| On Thursday, SC members will vote on an Egyptian draft resolution, stating
settlements have “no legal validity and constitute a flagrant violation
under international law.” It demands “Israel immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem.” It “(u)nderlines that it will not recognize any changes to the 4 June 1967 lines, including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties through negotiations.” It “(c)alls upon all States, to distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967.” It “(c)alls for immediate steps to prevent all acts of violence against civilians, including acts of terror, as well as all acts of provocation and destruction, calls for accountability in this regard, and calls for compliance with obligations under international law for the strengthening of ongoing efforts to combat terrorism, including through existing security coordination, and to clearly condemn all acts of terrorism; and to refrain from provocative actions, incitement and inflammatory rhetoric.” Washington vetoed a similar 2011 resolution. It’s unclear what Obama intends this time, near the end of his tenure. The White House declined to comment. Overnight Wednesday, Netanyahu tweeted America “should veto the anti-Israel resolution at the UN Security Council on Thursday.” On Israeli radio, extremist Israeli UN envoy Danny Danon said “(i)n a few hours we will receive the answer from our American friends.” “I hope very much it will be the same one we received in 2011 when the version was very similar to the one proposed now and the U.S. ambassador to the UN at the time, Susan Rice, vetoed it.” Nothing will change either way, Danon added. Throughout its history, Israel repeatedly ignored dozens of UN resolutions and other actions opposing its interests. Settlement construction won’t stop. Nor will brutal persecution of defenseless Palestinians, the world community failing to act responsibly on their behalf, Israel doing what it pleases with impunity. Netanyahu-led Likudniks call Judea and Samaria settlements “the realization of Zionist values. Settlement of the land is a clear expression of the unassailable right of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel and constitutes an important asset in the defense of the vital interests of the State of Israel.” "The Likud will continue to strengthen and develop these communities and will prevent their uprooting.” Likudniks and likeminded Israeli extremists also reject Green Line separation of Israel and Palestine. They consider all valued parts of historic Palestine sovereign Israeli territory, a flagrant Fourth Geneva violation - prohibiting an occupying power from “deport(ing) or transfer(ing) parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies (Article 49).” In July 2004, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled against Israeli settlements, calling them “illegal and an obstacle to peace and to economic and social development…(a) breach of international law.” French ambassador to Israel Helene Le Gal called the new resolution balanced, matching her country’s position, indicating likely support. Will Britain go alone, America letting it pass by abstaining? Later on Thursday we’ll know. Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III." http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com. Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network. |