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Democrats Throw Palestinians Under the Bus
Democrats and Republicans both don't give a damn about Palestinian rights.
by Stephen Lendman
On Wednesday evening, Democrat convention delegates took three voice votes calling Jerusalem Israel's capital. Each time, nays sounded louder than yeas.
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa chaired the convention. Despite boos and no votes more audible than yes ones, he declared rewriting platform language policy.
Doing so violates international law and justice. Obama caved to AIPAC and other Israeli Lobby organizations. Pandering to Lobby pressure and Israeli lawlessness is policy. Palestinians don't matter so ignore them. Spurning international law is OK.
In 1947, the UN designated Jerusalem an international city under a UN Trusteeship Council. The area includes Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Beit Sahour. It encompasses Christian and Muslim holy sites.
After Israel's 1947-48 War of Independence, it was divided between Israel and Jordan. During Israel's 1967 Six-Day War, East Jerusalem was captured and occupied. It remains so lawlessly today.
UN Resolution 181 called for an Independent Arab state by October 1, 1948. It asked:
"all Governments and peoples to refrain from taking any action which might hamper or delay the carrying out of these recommendations."The Security Council was to take "the necessary measures as provided for in the plan for its implementation." It was to assure "a just and lasting peace...."
Israel's "War of Independence" intervened. Decades later, peace remains elusive. Palestine's still occupied. World leaders never intervened. Over eight million Palestinians, including diaspora ones, await justice.
On June 30, 1980, the Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 476. America abstained. It declared "all legislative and administrative measures and actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, which purport to alter the character and status of the Holy City of Jerusalem have no legal validity and constitute a flagrant (Fourth Geneva) violation."
On July 30, 1980, Israel's Jerusalem Law lawlessly annexed the city as its unified capital.
On August 20, 1980, the Security Council unanimously passed Resolution 478. America again abstained. Resolution language "censured (Israel) in the strongest terms." It condemned its Jerusalem Law.
