US’s veto at UN is ’no surprise’ as they keep ‘protecting Israel’ | Mark Lyall Grant
The United States has once again used its veto power at the United Nations Security Council to block a resolution condemning Israel’s military actions in Gaza. The draft resolution, proposed by Norway, Tunisia and China, called for an immediate ceasefire, humanitarian access and protection of civilians in the conflict zone. It also expressed grave concern over the escalation of violence and the high number of casualties, especially among children and women.
The US was the only member of the 15-nation council to vote against the resolution, while 14 others voted in favor. The US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said that the resolution was “unbalanced” and “unhelpful” in advancing the prospects of peace. She argued that the US was working tirelessly behind the scenes to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza.
However, this is not the first time that the US has shielded its ally Israel from international criticism and accountability at the UN. Since 1972, the US has vetoed 44 resolutions related to Israel and the Palestinian territories, more than any other country on any other issue. The US has often cited its “special relationship” with Israel and its commitment to its security as the reasons for its diplomatic support.
But this stance has also drawn criticism from many quarters, including some of its own allies and partners. Mark Lyall Grant, a former British ambassador to the UN and a former national security adviser, said that the US’s veto was “no surprise” as they have been “protecting Israel for decades”. He said that the US’s position was “morally indefensible” and “politically unsustainable” in the face of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the widespread condemnation of Israel’s actions.
Lyall Grant, who is now a regular contributor to Times Radio, a British digital radio station owned by The Times and The Sunday Times, said that the US should use its leverage over Israel to pressure it to stop its attacks and agree to a ceasefire. He also said that the international community should step up its efforts to revive the stalled peace process and address the root causes of the conflict, such as the illegal settlements, the blockade of Gaza and the status of Jerusalem.
He added that the UN should play a more active and constructive role in facilitating dialogue and cooperation between the parties and ensuring respect for international law and human rights. He said that the UN was not a “toothless tiger” and that it had the tools and the mandate to make a difference. He cited the examples of the UN’s involvement in resolving conflicts in other parts of the world, such as Syria, Yemen and Libya.
Lyall Grant said that the current situation in Gaza was “unacceptable” and “unsustainable” and that it required urgent action from all sides. He said that the world could not stand by and watch as innocent civilians, especially children, were killed and injured in the crossfire. He said that the only way to end the cycle of violence and suffering was to end the occupation and achieve a two-state solution, based on the 1967 borders and with Jerusalem as the capital of both states.
He concluded by saying that the US’s veto at the UN was “no surprise” as they keep “protecting Israel”, but that it was also “no solution” as it only prolonged the conflict and the misery. He said that the US should rethink its strategy and join the rest of the world in supporting a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. He said that this was not only in the interest of the Palestinians and the Israelis, but also of the region and the world.
