Israel condemns US non-vote in abstentia.

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   rhamsonposted 7 years ago

   With Kerry and Netanyahu arguing the US vote in abstentia effectively condemning Israel for continued new settlements on the West Bank one has to wonder why all the remaining votes went to condemn Israel without notice or discussion. Is it that the US blocking such votes make it any less important to pass? Is the US the only vote that matters? Israel claims it wants a two state solution yet continues to act against such wishes. It is a bunch of BS by two imperialistic powers hashing out their conquest in front of the world. This is no news as Obama did not ever get along with Isreal.

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      colorfuloneposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      I found out that the P5: Permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, all have equal power to veto.  They are the US, China, Russia, the UK, and France. 
      
      The P5 are the biggest exporters of guns and ammo ... US, China, Russia, the UK and France (and Germany).  The US being #1 and on down numerically in that order. 
      
      I just learned that listening to Dr Steve Pieczenik, the real Jack Ryan.  I am a fan.

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         rhamsonposted 7 years agoin reply to this

         So Netanyahu chooses to single out the US as the one who should have vetoed the vote? My point is that the US for the first time in many years allowed the UN to speak and got severely criticized for it. Who are we to influence the votes according to Israels wishes?

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            colorfuloneposted 7 years agoin reply to this

            Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed months ago to peace talks at the invitation of Russian President Valdimar Putin to be held in Moscow on an undisclosed date.   
            
            I believe, Abbas and Netanyahu need to work this out, without anti-Israeli and pro-Palestinian interference from 70 other nations to their two state solution.   It is very important.

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               rhamsonposted 7 years agoin reply to this

               I can agree with that and Netanyahu needs to keep his criticisms private if that is to work..

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               1. 79

                  colorfuloneposted 7 years agoin reply to this

                  This is interesting from The Jerusalem Post. Israel isn't going to be intimidate by Washington and the UN.  I say good for them. 
                  
                  Less than 48 hours after Donald Trump was sworn in as US president, the Jerusalem Municipality’s Local Planning and Building Committee on Sunday approved hundreds of Jewish residential housing units beyond the 1949 Armistice Line.
                  
                  Housing approvals over the Green Line were previously largely shelved amid heightened tensions between Washington and Jerusalem, which were further exacerbated by the recent UN resolution condemning settlement construction.
                  
                  Deeming the resolution further evidence that the UN is fundamentally biased against Israel, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat issued a blistering statement against the ruling, and rebuked the Obama administration for abstaining, and pressuring Israel to cease construction.
                  
                  Moreover, on Thursday the mayor emailed a brief video, accompanied by a letter of support for Trump to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and accused Obama of “surrendering to the Iranian’s and radical Islam,” and “abandoning Israel.”
                  
                  On Sunday, the municipal construction committee approved 566 housing units in Ramat Shlomo, Ramot, and Pisgat Ze’ev, as well as 49 Arab units in Beit Hanina; 14 in Wadi Joz; 24 in Umm Lison and Umm Tuba; 7 in Jabl Mukaber; 4 in Beit Safafa; 3 in Sur Baher; and 4 in A-Tur.

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                     rhamsonposted 7 years agoin reply to this

                     "Less than 48 hours after Donald Trump was sworn in as US president, the Jerusalem Municipality’s Local Planning and Building Committee on Sunday approved hundreds of Jewish residential housing units beyond the 1949 Armistice Line."
                     
                     As I said, another poke in the eye towards any solution.

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                     1. 79

                        colorfuloneposted 7 years agoin reply to this

                        I'm confused by Obama finalizing a deal last fall to give Israel like $38 billion in military aid over ten years starting in 2019.  Why are we giving Israel that much military aid?  It would seem to be aiding in the doom of Palestinians. 
                        
                        That much money could provide every American universal healthcare. It seems more like a poke in our eyes to me when America is $20 trillion in the hole.  I feel like we are being left in the dark.
                        
                        Trump shouldn't need to give Israel any aid, because Obama has made sure to take care of them.

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                           rhamsonposted 7 years agoin reply to this

                           It is the unwritten rule for Presidents to give money and arms to Israel. With Obama giving money to the Palestinians just hours before his exit, it would seem that any support for Palestinians is a problem left in the darkness and without explanation.

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                           wildernessposted 7 years agoin reply to this

                           LOL  The US spends nearly 4 Trillion on health care each year.  I don't think that 4 Billion per year would make much of a dent, not even if we spent all 38B in one year.

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                              psycheskinnerposted 7 years agoin reply to this

                              But imagine what 4 Billion could do if invested in something like cancer screening for poor people, safety net programs for illiterate students, or anti-violence programs for depressed inner city neighborhoods.  It could probably half the number of dogs and cats killed in the country if it went to something like free spay and neuter programs (about $1 for each animal life saved).

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                                 rhamsonposted 7 years agoin reply to this

                                 I agree with Wilderness that 4 billion is a drop in the bucket and that saved money would probably wind up in some politicians pet project to better their own re-election. Sorry to sound so pessimistic but money is what Congress is about and how it helps the individual in control of it.

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2. 83

   psycheskinnerposted 7 years ago

   I fully support the country I am a citizen of, New Zealand, in supporting the UN motion. That said the US has a complex shared cultural and political history with Israel that makes it very hard for the US to officially condemn even the most egregious action by Israel. I was surprised they even managed to be neutral on it.

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      rhamsonposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      I have always been impressed with the Kiwi's stalwart position on getting to the truth of situations. I went to a school system based on the New Zealand system in High School (Form U5-6). I even visited your country in the early seventies.
      
      Is the US so arrogant as to think it should hold up a vote the rest of the council agrees on? It has for years and when we let the vote happen instead of a review of the situation Israel goes nuts because we let them down? Is Israel and the US the only ones who agree that Israel should be allowed to construct new settlements on the West Bank and still continue the farce of the "Two State" solution? The rest of the world be damned in the process? It is all so biased and shameful.

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         psycheskinnerposted 7 years agoin reply to this

         In a way New Zealand benefits from being relatively unimportant.  Not that there have not been consequences but Israel is not going to bother with huge sanctions and doesn't trade much with NZ anyway.  Also the cultural overlap with Israel is much smaller, and on the less admirable side there is a historical element of anti-antisemitism which partially explains why NZ's Jewish population is so small.
         
         I think the US should oppose the settlements on non-Israel territory.  But I recognize that the consequences of doing so would be proportionately a great deal higher.

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3. 79

   colorfuloneposted 7 years ago

   The Obama Administration Joins with the Jackals at the UN to Betray Israel
   *  https://aclj.org/israel/the-obama-admin … 51636885=1
   
   "We are defending Israel in the realm of policy and public opinion. Now we are defending Israel in U.S. federal court."
   
   Please, donate!

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      rhamsonposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Good tat-for-tat argument. The article cited is lousy in public opinion. History does not support it. It has always been a condition for the lines to go back prior to the 1967 war. Israel continually supports the idea that Palestinians recognize Israel's right to exist as a basis to give it back. Neither will give and there starts the innuendo and back biting. The rest of the world is tired of it and has just said so. Netanyahu is angry that it was allowed to be expressed.

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4. 79

   colorfuloneposted 7 years ago

   Bruce Lee ~ "No way, as way."
   Jesus Christ ~ "I am the Way,..."
   Beethoven was nearly deaf --
   "Dumb, Dumb, Dumb, Dumb!"
   History was written by ancients.
   History being rewritten is, Dumb!
   What God has spoken will be fulfilled,
   And, so it is...

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5. 0

   calculus-geometryposted 7 years ago

   Well, if they don't like the way the US responded they could return all the gajillions of dollars the US has given them and then they'll be beholden to nobody and free to do whatever they want.

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      rhamsonposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      So can Israel for that matter.

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6. 79

   colorfuloneposted 7 years ago

   After the outrageous anti-Israel resolution at the UN, the US House of Representatives voted yesterday resoundingly to support Israel and reject this one-sided resolution.
   
   Democrats and Republicans alike know that the Western Wall isn't occupied territory.
   
   They voted to either repeal the resolution at the UN or change it—and that's exactly what we intend to do.
   I want to thank the US House of Representatives which reflects the tremendous support Israel enjoys among the American people.
   
   Thank you, America. Thank you, Congress.
   
   Benjamin Netanyahu
   
   I am proud, in the best possible way, of Democrats and Republicans for voting against this "outrageous anti-Israel resolution".  God bless them.

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      rhamsonposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Was this before or after he is being questioned for corruption.
      
      Netanyahu is suspected of having received benefits from businessmen, according to Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, who said the investigation relates to crimes of "moral integrity." Netanyahu was also questioned in a second case, but police gave no further details about either criminal investigation into the Prime Minister. http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/05/middleeas … stigation/

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         colorfuloneposted 7 years agoin reply to this

         That was four days ago, I'm not sure of the time frame now.  There is so much information coming at us so fast that its hard to keep track.  I haven't been keeping notes on this because I'm sure it will blow over. 
         
         I have never heard of crimes of moral integrity.  It sounds like calling a sin a crime. Its humorous in this light.  What do you think?  It doesn't sound like a reasonable accusation of a man of Netanyahu's upstanding moral integrity to me. 
         
         Maybe Mandelblit is projecting his own fault while talking about honor among thieves, where having moral integrity could be a crime?  I can't take that seriously, and rather doubt I will at any point.

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            rhamsonposted 7 years agoin reply to this

            I don't trust any of these politicians as there is a constant need to always be right and never ever shed any doubt on their intentions and actions. It just does not make human sense. There is a constant spin with it always going their way in their estimation. Netanyahu has for many years spoken peace yet sticks a finger in the negotiators eye when it comes to his actions. Think about it. What if you said you wanted to end a fight and upon separating you punched the opposite guy in the nose? That has been the many years of Netanyahu.

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