When the majority of member nations of the UN voted to approve the resolution making Palestine a non-member observer state, they not only totally rejected the strenuous attempts of Israel and the U.S. to control the decision, but also issued a clear message that they fully supported the efforts of the Palestinian people to free themselves from the vice grip of Israeli domination.
These UN member nations have, over many decades, witnessed Israel's continued illegal annexation of Palestinian territory and the subjugation of its people, and apparently decided that it was high time to do something about it. And so, they acted in an honorable and moral manner and initiated the first step in a process by which the Palestinian people can, by various means, recover much of the territory that has been taken from them.
When majority of the 193 member nations voted in favor of the Palestinian resolution it represented a huge loss for Israel. The United States government, that has consistently used its veto power to block every single attempt by the Security Council to censure and initiate sanctions against Israel for its many illegal actions against Palestine, also suffered a stinging defeat. Once again, the U.S. government tried very hard but completely failed to protect Israel's interests, as the nations of the world exercised their collective power to do what is right.
Of the 193 UN member nations, 138 voted in favor of the resolution, 9 voted no, there were 41 abstentions and 5 apparent no-shows. Among the 9 nations that voted no were Israel, the U.S. and Canada. Six other countries, some of them classed as small islands that most people have never heard of, also voted no. Yes, this was a clear message from these nations to Israel and the U.S. that they have chosen to side with the cause of the Palestinian people who have been battered, beaten, and suppressed by the paranoid, hubristic government of Israel.
This vote, which diehard supporters of Israel's agenda quickly dismissed as being a very uneventful, insignificant happening, actually represents a major achievement, a clear indication that the world is beginning to support further actions against Israel's ongoing violations of international laws.
While the leaders and people of Palestine will rejoice in this monumental victory, it is vey likely that they will use restraint and not do anything rash to try to use this new status to bring immediate retribution against their Israeli oppressors. But there should be no doubt that, at some point in time, if the Israeli government continues its oppressive agenda, they will take steps to bring Israel before the ICC, the International Criminal Court, to answer charges of crimes against humanity.
I would think that the Israeli PM, Bibi Netanyahu, would be sweating profusely as he considers how these UN actions will affect his upcoming reelection chances after the people of Israel fully comprehend how his policies and actions have so greatly contributed to this Palestinian victory. And when they realize that the future of their nation may be in great jeopardy if this belligerent Prime Minister remains in control, it is quite possible that they will turn on him and send him into the depths of political oblivion where he belongs.
In this connection, what do we hear from the leaders of America? Well, we hear their usual totally blind and unequivocal support for Israel and a refusal to acknowledge the magnitude and importance of what has just happened. Once again we are forced to listen to the totally nonsensical statements coming from Secretary of State Hillary "the Hawk" Clinton (thankfully, she is finally stepping down) that the vote was " unfortunate' and counterproductive."
This comment fits perfectly with her statements of the past in which she has supported and condoned every illegal action by Israel against the people of Palestine. Yes, Hillary, you are right and the majority of the nations of the world are wrong! Please, just go away for the nations of the world find your comments to be meaningless and irrelevant.
Of great significance is the fact that 41 nations, many of them supposedly closely aligned with the U.S. such as the U.K. and Germany abstained, choosing not to vote. That so many of these nations did not cave in to the pressure and refused to support the position of Israel and the U.S. government is a very significant development, one that should cause great concern in the halls of Washington.
The nations of the world very likely have opened a door for the people of Palestine to pass through in their quest for independence and the creation of a separate sovereign state. This historic vote will provide the opportunity for further positive developments to achieve this objective going in the future. But don't expect Israel and the U.S. to acknowledge that reality or change their positions against Palestine, because they simply won't, they are stuck in their outdated thinking.
So what does the future hold? It is becoming more and more evident that, based on its absolute refusal to deviate from its domination of the Palestinian people, and especially the city of Gaza, Israel will find itself more and more isolated in the world. If it continues to follow its current agenda it will become a pariah nation and be labeled as an apartheid state, to be subjected to further world boycotts and sanctions. And the U.S. government, its chief protector, defender and apologist, will be powerless to do anything to prevent its inevitable demise.
Michael Payne
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