US Blocks UN Security Council Action On Gaza Conflict

[Purveyor]

Source: Reuters

The United States has blocked a UN Security Council statement condemning the escalating conflict between Israel and the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, setting the scene for a possible showdown between Washington and Russia on the issue.

The United States opposed the statement - which had to be approved by consensus - because it "failed to address the root cause" missile attacks by Hamas of the escalation in fighting between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza, said Erin Pelton, spokeswoman for the US mission to the United Nations.

Israel said it was these Hamas rocket attacks that prompted its major offensive against the militants in Gaza on Wednesday.

"We made clear that we would measure any action by the Security Council based on whether it supported the ongoing diplomacy toward de-escalation of violence and a durable outcome that ends the rocket attacks on Israeli cities," Pelton said.

Read more: http://tvnz.co.nz/world-news/us-blocks-un-security-council-action-gaza-conflict-5230527

[Puregonzo1188]

1. Absolutely disgusting.

[oberliner]

2. Thank goodness we have Russia on the UNSC to provide a moral compass

Their leadership in the UN in addressing the violence in Chechnya was an inspiration to all peace-loving peoples around the world.

[David__77]

6. Neither the US nor Russia are emblematic of a moral foreign policy.

From my perspective, better for the UNSC not to issue such statements at all, whether about Israel or about Syria.

[Deep13]

3. Jesus Christ! WTF, Obama?! nt

[MadBadger]

4. Do you know what the statement read?

Havent found it yet

[rudycantfail]

5. We currently have neocon foreign policy,

albeit more competent than Bush's but still neocon.

[Ash_F]

7. The UNSC needs to be abolished

The whole "might makes right" concept is counter to the purpose of the UN.

[hack89]

10. That would kill the UN

the major powers would simply ignore the UN.

[Ash_F]

16. Not if their people demand justice. /nt

[hack89]

21. How about we make democracy and free elections criteria

for a country getting a UN vote? If justice is what you are looking for.

[Ash_F]

23. Agreed, but the US should not dictate that either. /nt

[Puregonzo1188]

27. And they don't already?

[hack89]

28. Pretty much. nt

[oberliner]

12. Where would they get their funding from?

The US pays the largest part of their budget.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

13. Maybe not so much in the near future

[oberliner]

20. What do you mean?

Not sure I follow what you are suggesting.

[Ash_F]

17. The UN budget is about 5 billion

Across 192 nations, I believe, comes to about 26 million per country. I don't think the budget is the primary obstacle to a fair balance of power in the UN.

[oberliner]

18. The US pays about 20 percent of that budget

The top 15 contributors together pay over 80 percent of the total budget.

You talk about payments averaging 26 million per country, yet most countries don't even pay 1/25th of that.

The 130 states that contribute the smallest percentages together account for less than 1.5 percent of the total budget.

The US pays more than 180 member states combined.

[Ash_F]

24. That's not the point

You didn't tell me anything new. My point is the budget is not so big that it is out of the scope of member nations should the US want to pay a smaller portion. That is a poor excuse for the US and other UNSC nations to dominate the UN in the way that they do if that is what you are trying to say.

[oberliner]

25. I disagree

In fact, I think your statement that "the budget is not so big that it is out of the scope of member nations should the US want to pay a smaller portion" is simply not so.

I do not think the UN would be able to function without the support of the US.

[Ash_F]

26. The US pays what it does because of its dominating position

It's not the other way around.

[SariesNightly]

8. Deja vu

War, it never ends

[barkway]

9. We support lies?

Israel is the one that started this when they broke the truce, and in any discussion of the conflict, it is imperative to remember that Israel and Gaza are NOT two equal, opposing forces! Gaza is occupied by Israel! Talk about the need to defend oneself, and to have a right to exist?! And our media keeps presenting the atrocities as if they are equal. Hundreds are wounded in Gaza, over 100 are dead including pregnant women and innocent children. How many Israeli children have been blown to bits? Anyone who supports what Israel is doing to the Palestinian people is seriously lacking in morals, ethics, values, and any human compassion whatsoever. As an aside, I am sick and tired of the propaganda we are fed by our government and US media so Americans will continue to support sending billions of our tax dollars to Israel for their military when we have needs for that money for our own people right here on US soil.

[hack89]

11. There was no agreed upon truce.

there were proposals but there was no announced truce.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

14. Do you have a link to any articles

... that support your claim that Israel started this?

MSM reports that rockets were fired from Gaza before Israel retaliated. Is this a lie?

[glacierbay]

15. To the Israel

haters, of course it's a lie, Israel bad, Hamas good to them.

[dipsydoodle]

19. No

both act despicably.

[cpwm17]

22. You're right

I consider this issue an excellent morality litmus test. Ones position on this conflict is a great indication on how one thinks we should treat our fellow man. The Iraq War was another good litmus test.

This is a permanent conflict, and it is obvious why. The Palestinians didn't ask for this. Their horrible treatment is imposed on them.