The United States has a hard time getting a sanctions resolution against Iran through the U.N. Security Council because Iran has two protectors (Russian and China) among the five permanent members with veto power.
Israel has only one reliable veto-wielding friend on the Security Council, the U.S.
That protection may be on the verge of going the way of the special relationship, as the BBC is reporting that the U.S. has signaled an intention to abstain on an anti-Israeli resolution regarding East Jerusalem:
The US is considering abstaining from a possible UN Security Council resolution against Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem, sources suggest to the BBC.
The possibility surfaced at talks in Paris last week between a senior US official and Qatar’s foreign minister.
The official said the US would “seriously consider abstaining” if the issue of Israeli settlements was put to the vote, a diplomat told the BBC.
US officials in Washington have not confirmed the report.
It is likely that the US is considering how to maintain pressure, and a UN resolution would be one way, says BBC state department correspondent Kim Ghattas.
The US usually blocks Security Council resolutions criticising Israel.
If true, this would mark a very dangerous development because U.N. resolutions, even if not containing explicit sanctions, are one of the primary tools for delegitimizing Israel. Depending upon the wording of the resolution, the damage could be severe.
This could be the change Israel’s enemies were hoping for.
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Related Post:
What If Palestinians Were Settlers?
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Comments
It's terrible, but hopefully only temporary. Israel has to stop trying to appease Obama. They have nothing to gain. I know a lot will happen in the next 3 years, but I hope Obama digs himself into such a big hole that he can't be reelected. The economy should be much better during 2012 (how could it not be?), and maybe he will start talking more like a moderate again, but the Tea Party is viewed as more knowledgeable than Congress by a majority of voting Americans.
http://tinyurl.com/ygg9v6c
That makes me optimistic… that's all we can hope for right now.
http://truthandcommonsense.com/2010/03/27/israel-is-getting-the-message-they-are-alone-good-thing-they-have-nukes/
Obama has serious personality issues. I wrote about his character in my political novel REVOLT http://www.revoltthebook.com. It was supposed to be a fictional character, all the issues of Clinton but on steroids. The more time passes, the more the book is turning out to be a history text instead of a work of fiction.
Frankly it is a little unnerving, but it is one possible future. How we handle this period of time and more importantly how the government handles our reaction to it will mold this nation for two generations. It is a dangerous time, like the sixties but the difference is the people in charge now are nearly as nice.
I belive that war became certain and soon after that White House meeting. Abstention will only accelerate events. I don't understand this administrations Israeli stance. If it is war may God protect Israel and grant a great victory.
His father was a Muslim. He started life as a Muslim. His Trinity Church has ties to Farrakhan. Rev Wright preached against Isreal.
Why is everyone surprised? This is exactly who you voted for and everyone knew these truths before the election.
What we didn't know though, was that this man apparently harbors hatred for our traditional allies. He bows to Islamic kings and embraces despot thugs with a buddy handshake. But, he makes the Dali Lama exit past the garbage, gives DVDs to the British, supports a wannabe president for life in Hondurus, and walks out on the Isrealis. He snubbed the French, but Sarkozy, not Chirac!!
Biden once warned that this inexperienced leader would be tested. Who knew it would be our allies doing the testing!
Obama is president because of the support of the American Jewish supporters. The media knew but refused to report his views; another industry heavy with Jewish leaders. All of this is happening for a reason and the Arabs are not going to be happy about the outcome.