The bully on the global playground
The man who almost single-handedly caused the implosion of the Democratic Party, is now responsible for the same near-destruction at the United Nations. Not that it's a bad thing — I have been expecting it, just not at the hands of the leader of the free world.
The recent decision by the U.S. to abstain their vote on the UN Security Council Resolution regarding Israel, last Friday, is bringing the ire of Republicans and Democrats alike. And well it should! This decision directed by our president changed decades of precedent where the U.S. formerly always protected Israel, our longtime ally. The need for this resolution is being touted as the Jewish "occupation" in East Jerusalem is a hindrance to the peace process. I don't have space to address that here. If you are unfamiliar with the inappropriate claim that Israel is an occupier, google Dennis Prager's video "The Middle East Problem." It is an excellent synopsis and truth in a nutshell. The truth is East Jerusalem contains some of the most holiest sites of Jewish history from biblical times.
This resolution had nothing to do with bringing peace to the Middle East; but rather to delegitimize the very existence of the state of Israel. And I will even go so far as to say, to deliberately attempt to negate what God has said about it. Nice try.
Israel is now reconsidering their support of the UN. I would have withdrawn a long time ago — probably when the UN allowed Iran to have the floor stating there was never a Holocaust; that it was all a farce. I would have given up on the U.S. when Obama gave secret funds to Iran. But with Israel being condemned 20 times in UN resolutions last year while the rest of the world, only 3 times, Obama's silent attack via this resolution was the last straw for PM Netanyahu.
Those three other resolutions would be against Syria, Iran and North Korea; one citation each. Understandable! Think of the atrocities those nations have committed! But Israel, the only democracy in the Middle east, 20 times!? The UN has become nothing more than a bully primed to bludgeon Israel every chance they get.
From UNwatch.org regarding this year's resolutions:
"The three that do not concern Israel are: one on Syria, a regime that has murdered more than 200,000 of its own people, one on Iran, and one on North Korea.
Not a single UNGA resolution this year (70th session) is expected to be adopted on gross and systematic abuses committed by China, Cuba, Egypt, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Yemen, Zimbabwe, or on dozens of other perpetrators of gross and systematic human rights violations."
PM Bibi Netanyahu has the patience of a saint.
Several members of the United States Congress ( Ted Cruz, John McCain, Paul Ryan, Marco Rubio and others) are also calling for the U.S. to stop sending funds to the UN until these attacks against our longtime friend and ally stop. We must insist on this! The United States gives about one quarter of the UN "peacekeeping" budget to the tune of almost 3 billion dollars a year; more than 185 other countries combined. Enough! There have been Democrats that have spoken out as well — notably, Charles Schumer, Richard Blumenthal, Joe Manchin are a few, as well as renowned attorney Alan Dershowitz.
In a recent interview, Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer, stated Israel has iron-clad proof the United States (read that President Obama) was directly responsible for bringing this resolution to the UN against Israel. Great timing! This occurred just before Christians' and Jews' most blessed celebrations — Christmas and Hanukkah which occurred on the same day this year. Obama, through the UN, managed to not only offend PM Netanyahu and Israel, but Christians and Jews across the globe. A deliberate poke in the eye at this sacred time, in my opinion.
Now there is no way that a representative for the Israeli Prime Minister would go on national television with a charge like this were it not true. They would be fools to do so. He said the proof would be delivered to President-elect Trump once in office. Very wise! Later, Ric Grenell (former U.S. ambassador to the UN) reported the French ambassador to the U.S. has stated that Secretary of State John Kerry worked for weeks with New Zealand to draft the verbiage for this resolution; crafting it with the intentions of the United States first ever abstention against Israel. A "no" vote would have stopped the resolution in its tracks.
As it is, there will be dire consequences. Many may feel this is no big deal. Obama is on his way out, anyway. Trump will fix this. It is simply the bully on the playground getting in his last sneak attack, running quickly away before he could be held accountable. Well, that it is! It was a sneak attack against Obama's longtime perceived enemy, Benjamin Netanyahu. Obama's disdain for the man has been apparent for the entire eight years of his presidency. It has also been reported Obama's network meddled in Israeli elections in an attempt to oust PM Netanyahu. But I want to lay out some consequences of Obama's childish actions regarding the resolution. If indeed the U.S. president colluded with other nations on behalf of the Palestinians to bring this resolution in the last days of his administration, there will be a huge long-term effect.
This is a direct hit on the UN with the U.S. possibly removing financial support — we absolutely must. Democrats and Republicans have spoken out against Obama's actions.
The Israeli/Palestinian peace process just hit an all time low. There is no such thing as a one-sided peace process, anyway. The Palestinians continue to deny the very right of Israel to exist.
Obama deliberately tied the hands of his successor. It boxes Trump in, not allowing him to be as effective in his presidency.
It emboldens the enemy. Violence will increase.
This resolution will be cited in the future to advance an agenda that threatens Israel.
When there is another call for "land for peace." Israel will be told: "It is NOT your land to give, per this resolution."
It is a reflection of Obama's true ideology. He is against American or Israeli "exceptionalism" i.e. the belief that our greatness is due only to the God we serve.
God bless Donald J. Trump. He is going to have his hands full, thanks to the outgoing man who just sent him an incoming attack — once again changing a longtime precedent that once assured the outgoing president would not do anything to hinder the president-elect. This was a precedent that acknowledged the will of the people. No, I never expected Obama to respect the will of the people when it doesn't align with his own beliefs. It has always been about him — the bully on the playground.
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Jan Conner is an Athol resident.