US Faces Isolation on Security Council Over Settlements

A surge in settler violence and increased construction and plans for Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Jerusalem have again placed the Obama administration in a tough spot at the UN Security Council, where some of its closest allies Tuesday strongly condemned recent Israeli policies and settlement activities.

While American officials have repeatedly said they oppose Israeli settlement expansion as illegitimate and counter-productive to the peace process, the US administration used its first and only Security Council veto back in February to oppose a resolution condemning Israeli settlement expansion in a 14-1 vote. 

US support for Israel is a sensitive political issue for this administration.Republican opponents have already criticized the White House for its strained relationship with the Netanyahu government, and less than a year away from an election, the administration likely won’t change its position, should the issue once again come before the Security Council as was suggested by some countries Tuesday. 

Calls for Security Council involvement in the conflict come at a time when the US is trying to convince other Council members to support resolutions and sanctions targeting the regimes in Syria and Iran. A US veto to block another lopsided vote against settlements could further damage American standing in the Arab world and hurt administration’s efforts at the United Nations.

In a briefing on the latest developments Tuesday, UN assistant secretary-general for political affairs, Oscar Fernandez-Taranco called Israeli actions a violation of its obligations under the international community’s roadmap for peace.

Taranco said there had been an alarming increase in settlement construction in East Jerusalem, the cities of Shilo, Efrat and Beitar Illit and that after a long period of restraint, Israeli authorities had resumed in December the demolition of Palestinian residential structure in Jerusalem.

Taranco also briefed the Council members on renewed reports of settler violence, which he says have become a systematic occurrence and often take place in the context of anticipated government action against illegal settlement construction. He said that over the past month, mosques in the West Bank, Hebron, West Jerusalem and near Ramallah have been fire bombed and desecrated and that six Palestinians including two children had been injured in other attacks by settlers.

Security Council diplomats issued statements on behalf of larger diplomatic groups and individually after the briefing,  with IBSA ( India, Brazil, South Africa), the Non Aligned Movement (Group of 120 countries) ,  the four European Council members ( France, UK, Portugal, Germany) as well as Russia, each condemning the surge in settler construction and violence against Palestinian civilians. 

 The American delegation at the United Nations did not issue a statement.. 

Speaking on behalf on the four European Council members, British Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant said France, Portugal, Germany and the UK where “dismayed” by the negative developments on the ground, which he said had a devastating effect on the peace process. Lyall Grant urged the Israeli government to reverse course on settlement activity, including in East Jerusalem.

“We believe that Israel’s security and the realization of the Palestinians right to statehood  are not opposing goals. On the contrary, they are mutually reinforcing objectives but they will not be achieved while settlement building and settler violence continues.”

Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said Moscow was also increasingly concerned and frustrated by recent developments, which he said clearly raised human right concerns but also put in question the feasibility of the two state solution. 

“If you look at the map, you start wondering how, even theoretically, two states can be set up in Gaza and West Bank given this new reality.”

Churkin said his country would favor the Security Council using its leverage on the issue of settlements in hopes to encourage real negotiations.

“You can hear people these days say in other contexts: “The international community must act, the security council must act.” he said. “ Why doesn’t it apply to the Israeli-Palestinian track of our diplomatic and political effort? We think it can be done in a way which is not harming Israeli security and interests at all.”

Russia has of late been sharply criticized by US and European governments for blocking a Security Council resolution imposing sanctions on the Syrian government for its crackdown against protesters, although last week Moscow proposed its own draft resolution on Syria which has since been welcomed by European diplomats as a good starting point for negotiations.

Churkin said Israel’s large political coalition make any discussions about possible concessions a complicated for the Israeli government, and that the country’s leadership may need a “gentle prod” from the international community or Security Council to uphold its international obligations.

Both the NAM (Non-Aligned Movement) and IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa) statements called on Council members to speak out against violations of international law and uphold Security Council resolutions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 

 Brazilian Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti said ending settlement expansion wasn’t a concession “but an obligation as per various resolution per international law”.

 The Brazilian Ambassador said Security Council involvement was required to settle the conflict.

 “The IBSA countries believe the Security Council has an irreplaceable role to play in the peace process, mainly by condemning violence and calling for a complete halt to settlement activity, calling for the implementation of its own resolutions..”

In his report today assistant secretary-general for political affairs Taranco, also detailed the deteriorating security situation in Gaza and Southern Israel. 

Taranco said Israeli forces carried out 13 airstrikes and 9 incursions in Gaza over the past month, resulting in the death of eight Palestinian militants and injuring 24 civilians. 

He said Palestinian militants responded by firing 45 projectiles into Israel after one of the IDF strikes killed two Islamic jihad militants and injured 10 civilians. Israeli officials say the two Jihadist were preparing an attack. He said there was no reported injuries or damage in Israel from the rocket fire from Gaza.

 In the West Bank IDF forces carried out 237 operations,154 civilians injured including 6 children. The operations also resulted in the arrest of over 200 people.

Abbas, Netanyahu Talk Past Each Other at UN General Assembly

In a passionate speech before the United Nations General Assembly, Mahmoud Abbas today made good on his bid for full Palestinian membership at the United Nations in the hope of reviving talks with Israel and moving past the stalemate that has characterized negotiations over the past decades.

Just minutes later, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the Abbas approach and called for a peace deal before recognition.

President Abbas said the Palestinian request supported the resumption of negotiations and actually enhanced its chances of success.

“ It is no longer possible to redress the issue of the blocked horizon of the peace talks with the same means and methods that have repeatedly been tried and proven unsuccessful over the past years.” Abbas told the General Assembly, in a speech punctuated by applause and cheers from a majority of the national delegations in the assembly hall.

“We extend our hand to the Israeli government and the Israeli people for peace making and I say to them: Let us urgently build together a future for our children were they can enjoy freedom , security and prosperity. Let us build the bridges of dialogue instead of check points and walls of separation.”

The Palestinian President said he presented Secretary General Ban Ki Moon earlier today with an application for admission of Palestine on the basis on the 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as its capital.

In the run-up to today’s announcement, Israeli officials repeatedly dismissed Palestine’s application for UN membership as an attempt to pressure and isolate Israel within the international community. 

Abbas argued that the intentions behind the application were quite the opposite and that the Palestinian Authority and people had clearly chosen the path of diplomacy, but could no longer stand by as settlement construction continued.

“Our efforts are not aimed at isolating Israel; or delegitimizing it. Rather we want to gain legitimacy for the cause of the people of Palestine, we only aim to delegitimize the settlement activities , the occupation and apartheid and the logic of ruthless force.” he said “When we bring our plight and our case to this international podium it is a confirmation of our reliance on the political and diplomatic option and is confirmation that we do not undertake unilateral steps.”

Last September, Palestinian officials walked away from talks after the Netanyahu government refused to extend a moratorium on settlement construction in the Occupied Territories.

The Obama administration first tried to pressure Israel to maintain the 2010 construction freeze, but stepped back from its demands after Netanyahu indicated settlement construction would go on.

 Taking to the podium a few minutes later, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu challenged the Palestinian President’s assertions about the failure of negotiations. 

“President Abbas just stood here and he said that the core of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the settlements. Well thats odd, our conflict was raging for nearly half a century before there was a single Israeli settlement in the West Bank.” he told world body. “The core of the conflict is not the settlements. The settlements are a result of the conflict. Its an issue that has to be addressed and resolved in the course of negotiations,  but the core of the conflict has always been and unfortunately remain the refusal of the Palestinians to recognize a Jewish state in any border.”

Netanyahu said the Palestinians leadership continued to deny the historical connection Jews have with the state of Israel and Jerusalem and ignore its legitimate security concerns. 

“Israel is the Jewish state. President Abbas, stop walking around this issue, recognize the Jewish state and make peace with us.” 

Netanyahu said his government had worked hard to advance peace since he had taken office, but Palestinians officials refused to respond to his offers. 

“President Abbas, why don’t you join me? We have to stop negotiating about the negotiations. Lets just get on with it. Lets negotiate peace.” he said to applause “I cannot make peace alone, I cannot make peace without you. President Abbas, I extend my hand, the hand of Israel in peace.”

Obama Holds Out Carrot And Stick To Iran

The US and its allies have not closed the door on a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue but Tehran will need to display a clear and credible commitment to the development of nuclear capabilities for peaceful purposes, President Obama told the UN General Assembly today in New York.

” As part of our effort on non-proliferation, I offered the Islamic republic of Iran an extended hand last year and underscored that it has both rights and responsibilities as a member of the International community. I also said , in this hall, that Iran must be held accountable if it failed to meet those responsibilities. That is what we have done.” said Obama

In his second address in front of the world body since taking office, Obama said his main focus over the past two years had been to  rescue the American economy from a “potential catastrophe” with the help of its international partners. “America has joined with nations around the world to spur growth and the renewed demand that could restart job creation. We are reforming our system of global finance, beginning with Wall Street reform here at home so that a crisis like this never happens again.  And we made the G-20 the focal point of international cooperation because in a world where prosperity is more diffuse we must broaden our circle of cooperation to include emerging economies. “

A substantial portion of Obama’s speech focused on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the importance of the international communities support of the most recent talks between Israelis and Palestinian leaders. The President said he understands the skepticism surrounding these new rounds of negotiation and is aware of the challenges ahead but believes their is no other solution. “Rejectionists on both sides will try to disrupt the process with bitter words, bombs and gunfire” said President Obama “If an agreement is not reached, Palestinians will never know the pride and dignity that comes with their own state, Israelis will never know the certainty and security that comes with sovereign and stable neighbors who are committed to coexistence”

The President also spoke about the change in policies towards the Iraq and Afghan wars, saying that the recent draw down of troops in Iraq and the scheduled draw down in Afghanistan next July were part of a new approach that would increasingly focus on local capacity building and partnerships.”We are moving towards a more targeted approach, one that strengthens our partners and dismantles terrorist networks without deploying large American armies.”

Obama Meets With Netanyahu, Calls Relationship With Israel "Unbreakable"

President Barack Obama met in the Oval Office with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Tuesday and attempted to counter the notion that relations between the two countries are strained.

“The bond between the U.S. and Israeli is unbreakable,” Obama told reporters. 

The last face-to-face meeting between the heads of state was in late March, shortly after the White House issued a strong statement criticizing the extension of settlements in the East Bank. Photographers were not allowed to attend and the talks were reportedly icy.

Obama and Netanyahu were scheduled to meet at the White House in early June. However, the controversy surrounding the Israeli military’s confrontation with a humanitarian flotilla attempting to break the Gaza blockade delayed the plans. 

The two leaders discussed pressing policy issues, including resuming direct peace negotiations with the Palestinians, a possibility that Obama hoped could be achieved before a partial settlement moratorium expires in September, and deterring a nuclear armed Iran.

Obama also reaffirmed America’s commitment to Israel’s safety.

“Israel has unique security requirements,” Obama said. “The U.S. will never ask Israel to take risks that would undermine its security.”

Security No Barrier To Lifting Gaza Blockade, Says UN Official

As the third year of the Israeli blockade of Gaza approaches, the head of the UN's operation in Gaza says humanitarian needs of the local population must be urgently addressed if there is any hope of moving the political situation forwards.

Speaking to reporters in New York, John Ging, Director of UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine) Operations in Gaza, acknowledged that while recent Israeli easing of restrictions on supplies for Gaza are welcomed, they nevertheless remain relatively insignificant on the larger scale.

"It is bewilderingly difficult on a daily basis, it's a struggle to survive.The infrastructiure of water and sanitation is in a state of collapse. There is no legitimate economy anymore, nor is there any prospect of the restoration of the legitimate economy because there is no commercial trade into or out of the Gaza strip." said Ging,"The increases in access are a drop in a bucket. The context is so great, the scale of the need is so large."

Regardless of the extent of their impact, Ging says these positive developments need to be built upon. "The arguments that have been put forward to excuse this blockade are now being undermined by these positive developments because it is now demonstrated that there are ways to overcome the security challenges. The practical proof is that it can be done. "

Ging says his main concern now is to make sure children in Gaza are registered for the coming school year and that the necessary facilities are available. Last year, UNWRA was unable to accommodate thousands of students and, as the the school age population in Gaza continues to grow, the situation is expected to worsen.

"We have not been allowed to build a school in Gaza for three years." said Ging "We have used all the containers that were available in Gaza to build extra classrooms, to convert shipping containers into classrooms. We've used all of the ingenuity and creativity that we can to try and accommodate as many of the children who are entitled to register, but we've exhausted all of those means. "

Israel and other UN member states have in the past voiced concern over the curriculum used by UN schools in Gaza, fearing it could promote extremism or violence, but Ging says all teaching staff is closely vetted by the UN in order to provide a non-political education.

"We use the textbooks of the Palestinian authority, the very same textbooks that the state of Israel uses in occupied East Jerusalem...and we enrich those textbooks with human rights curriculum built around the values of the Universal Declaration. Its about academic development, its about the development of values and its also about critical thought and a positive mindset."