The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : A Most Relunctant Veto

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This afternoon the UN Security Council voted on a Palestinian resolution declaring all Israeli settlement in the West Bank "illegal." The vote was 14-1; the US was the only no vote, and used the veto power to defeat the resolution. But this may have been the most overtly reluctant veto ever.

I noted on Wednesday that, at a time when undermining Israel could be especially dangerous, US Ambassador Susan Rice was pushing a "compromise" wherein the Security Council would issue a statement denouncing settlements without the word "illegal." The New York Times reports today that the US was still trying to push a deal along these lines yesterday; President Obama even called Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to press his case. After the vote, Rice gave a speech emphasizing that the US had attempted to broker a unanimous attack on Israel. It was, as John Podhoretz aptly puts it, "a truly foul speech."

The Emergency Committee for Israel has a good statement on the UN's unseriousness. But that's nothing new. What's most alarming is the unseriousness -- and recklessness -- of this administration's diplomacy.

View all comments (6) | Leave a comment

Ken (Old Texican)| 2.18.11 @ 6:24PM

Mr. Tabin,
Thank you for the update.
You know.....I simply cannot shake the words out of my mind..... "Samson in the pagan temple" and
"Masada".
Oh my! Interesting times indeed!

Occam's Tool| 2.18.11 @ 9:31PM

Worse than Carter, Obama is.

Michael P DeBenedetto| 2.19.11 @ 12:43AM

Why is Israel allowing the UN or anyone else telling them they can't build on the West Bank. It's conquered land. The Russians invaded Islands in the north of Japan at the end of WWII and nobody says a word. Like our Judas Goat Press ther is a double standard here. Israel has more to fear from the Obama administration then the Muslims. Obama is not a supporter of Israel and the democrats will hide if Israel attacks any area of the Muslim world in defense of it's right to live in peace..

Mimi| 2.19.11 @ 7:24AM

Any hope this pitiful administration of President Obama had to regain footing is ....NOW ENDED. This one act of betrayal is the FINAL BLOW of self destruction. It is gone !

beebop| 2.19.11 @ 12:04PM

Mimi ... I wish I could agree with you, but the act of voting for 0bama in the past election is a sure indication that American Jews have no trouble with voting against the interests of their brothers and sisters in Israel. Were that it were not the case.

Mimi| 2.19.11 @ 7:25AM

Any hope this pitiful administration of President Obama had to regain footing is ....NOW ENDED. This one act of betrayal is the FINAL BLOW of self destruction. It is gone !