A Push to Condemn Israel at the U.N.
The Palestinian Authority is moving forward and working to pass a resolution at the United Nations General Assembly to condemn Israel for construction of its settlements.
Once again, the focal point will be on the United Nations where efforts will intensify with countries lining up to both support and condemn Israel on the global front.
Here's what's happening. A U.N. Security Council resolution that would have deemed Israeli settlements illegal and demanded Israel to cease all further construction was vetoed recently by the U.S. At the same time, there were troubling comments from Secretary of State Clinton who called the Israeli construction project "illegitimate."
In an attempt to circumvent the Security Council, the Palestinian Authority has said it will attempt to utilize General Assembly Resolution 377 and appeal directly to the General Assembly in an “emergency session.”
Typically, the UN Charter, under Articles 11 and 12, reserves to the Security Council the sole power to deal with matters of international peace and security. In 1950, however, Resolution 377 was adopted—through leadership from the United States—to bypass this restriction (in very limited situations) in an attempt to stop the USSR’s veto power regarding the Korean War.
Now, the Palestinian Authority (PA) is threatening to use this measure to ignore the U.S. veto and garner its support directly from the General Assembly, where over 120 U.N. member states have already voted in favor of the Resolution condemning the Israeli settlements. Although any action taken by the General Assembly will not carry the force of law, it is a clear attempt by the PA to paint the U.S. as a powerless force and to gain international support.
We will continue to follow developments closely at the U.N. and keep you informed on this important situation.Posted: 2/22/2011 12:01 AM
