Voice of Palestine , 26/03/24
In the ongoing saga of the Israeli occupation of Palestine, the United States’ consistent exercise of its veto power in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has been a formidable obstacle to Palestinian aspirations for statehood and sovereignty. The American veto has repeatedly thwarted efforts to advance Palestinian interests on the international stage, perpetuating a cycle of frustration and stagnation in the quest for a just and lasting resolution to the conflict.
Since the establishment of Israel in 1948, the United States has employed its veto power in the UNSC to shield Israeli occupation from accountability numerous times. In total, the US has cast over 40 vetoes to protect Israel, making it the most frequent user of the veto in the history of the UN Security Council. These vetoes have ranged from resolutions condemning illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied territories to efforts to recognize Palestinian statehood.
In recent years, the American veto has been particularly consequential in obstructing international efforts to alleviate the starvation and humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. Despite widespread condemnation of genicidal Israeli war on Gazans and calls for immediate ceasefires, the US has consistently blocked UNSC resolutions calling for an end to genocide and the provision of humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza.
Three such instances occurred since 7/10/23, when the UNSC considered a draft resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the provision of humanitarian assistance to civilians affected by Israeli aggression that left more than 100000 killed and injured. Despite overwhelming international support for the resolution, the United States vetoed it, citing concerns about its potential impact on Israeli security.
This veto, like many before it, underscored the entrenched pro-Israel bias in American foreign policy and the significant influence wielded by pro-Israel lobbying groups within the United States. It perpetuated the cycle of violence and suffering in Gaza, denying Palestinians the urgent relief they desperately needed.
Moreover, the American veto against ceasefire resolutions reflects a broader failure of political will and moral courage in the international community to address the Israeli war crimes and collective punishment in Gaza and the root causes of the Israeli occupation and apartheid regime. It sends a message that Palestinian lives do not matter and that Israel is immune to accountability for its deliberate destruction of infrastructure, starvation of 2.4 million people, indiscriminate killing and ethnic cleansing.
In light of these Western double standards, there is an urgent need for a fundamental shift in American policy towards the illegal Israeli occupation. The US must recognize the inherent injustice of its unconditional support for Israel and its role in perpetuating the occupation. It must acknowledge the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for statehood, self-determination, and human rights.
To this end, the US should support multilateral efforts to advance a just and comprehensive resolution to the occupation, including through the UN and other international forums. It should refrain from using its veto power to shield Israel from accountability and instead work to hold it accountable for its actions in accordance with international law.
Israeli occupation cannot stay protected and unpunished for breaching the international law. Until the US and its allies are willing to dismantle the Israeli apartheid and end the illegal occupation of Palestine and advocate for self determination , the prospects for peace and stability in the region will remain elusive.
