Pompeo says US does not view Israeli settlements as violation of international law –
- Thread starter Charlemagne
- Start date
Hard to say if this is Trump pushing this or his evengelitcal base or Kushner.
Regardless, its legally wrong, the settlements are still illegal.
Trump really is against the two state solution, it appears.
He's all for making it full on apartheid.
Regardless, its legally wrong, the settlements are still illegal.
Trump really is against the two state solution, it appears.
He's all for making it full on apartheid.
I generally concur, but sorting out this conflict doesn't have some simple, complete resolution.
Interestingly, Pompeo said "And finally, finally, calling the establishment of civilian settlements inconsistent with international law hasn’t worked. It hasn’t advanced the cause of peace.
The hard truth is there will never be a judicial resolution to the conflict, and arguments about who is right and wrong as a matter of international law will not bring peace. This is a complex political problem that can only be solved by negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians."
This is the basic argument we have here over and over again. The argument you might have with your pro-Palestinian friends. If the Palestinians don't fear permanently losing land, what would force the Palestinians from giving up their sworn ideals of eliminating Israel and perpetual conflict until that is done.
The two state solution, while it sounds benign, has always been a fraud perpetrated on the Palestinians that allowed sundry Israeli governments incrementally to separate the indigenous population from their land. This sinister plan didn't originate with Oslo but with the founding of the state of Israel and was classified as "Plan Dalith" under ben Gurion. Every single US administration since '67 has tsk-tsked and chided Israel for "illegal settlements" while simultaneously funneling billions of taxpayers' dollars that effectually enable this very same illegal occupation. In this calumny the executive branch has had full-throat support from the congress as witnessed every spring in the zionist ass-kissing festival called AIPAC. Heck, Boehner even invited Bibi to come to Washington and insult a sitting US president in a joint session; an unprecedented public slap in the face. The best Obama could respond in his final days was to abstain from a UNSC resolution critical of Israel.
So now the pompous ass at State claims that calling them "illegitimate" hasn't lead to peace! But calling them legal will?
So now the pompous ass at State claims that calling them "illegitimate" hasn't lead to peace! But calling them legal will?
At least Pompeo and the Trump Administration are admitting who rules over them. They're all Zionists.
It reflects the reality on the ground but it’s the wrong move because the only real external pressure Israel responds to is from the US.
Sad, as it makes the USA a very partisan intermediary in any further discussions to resolve this whole Palestinian issue.
For ages. Will this get any better after this?? Remember that a certain individual stated that he would resolve this issue thanks to his genius of a son-in-law!!
The only big difference is that it kills the farce of the peace talks, which haven't been happening for years now.
It means that the two state solution is officially dead.
But doesn't hypocritical screaming at Israel and backing Palestinian violence bring peace?
And Pompeo is wrong. Only negotiations between the two sides can determine the legitimate final border.
Ever since the Abbas ran away from a comprehensive peace deal and Hamas reaffirmed their view that the only permanent peace is a Hamas ruling a Jew free Palestine.
Netanyahu is more interested in personal power than peace but to pretend that the Palestinian leadership wants a two state peace is a farce.
Canada breaks with recent history by voting against Israel at the UN, signalling it disagrees with U.S.
Evan Dyer·CBC News·Posted: Nov 19, 2019 6:54 PM ET |
Canada voted for a UN resolution this afternoon in support of Palestinians' right to self-determination.
The vote marks a major departure for Canada, which has declined to support substantially the same resolution through 14 consecutive votes since Stephen Harper came to power in 2006.
Tuesday's resolution was opposed by Israel, the United States and three Pacific island nations that depend heavily on U.S. aid and tend to vote with Washington at the UN: the Marshall Islands, Nauru and the Federated States of Micronesia.
Speaking on background, an official at Global Affairs Canada said the vote sends a message that Canada does not agree with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's assertion on Monday that Israeli settlements in the Occupied Territories are "not, per se, inconsistent with international law."
The official added that Canada has in the recent past opposed motions that are consistent with its own policy positions — to send a message that it considered the UN's focus on Israel's sins one-sided and inconsistent with the treatment of other nations. The official said that today's vote reflected core Canadian principles on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which include embracing a two-state solution with viable borders for both peoples.
A significant reversal
The vote represents a sudden shift in the direction of Canada's policies on the Middle East, which began to drift toward a more pro-Israeli stance under former Liberal prime minister Paul Martin. That trend accelerated dramatically under the Conservative government of Stephen Harper.
There are 16 UN resolutions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that come up every year, dealing with issues such as sovereignty, refugees, East Jerusalem, human rights, settlements and holy places. All of them are passed by overwhelming majorities while being opposed by the United States and Israel, which are sometimes joined by a handful of other nations. Those other nations typically include an assortment of Pacific islands — none of which can boast the population of Kelowna, B.C. — and Canada.
Canada was not always a member of the small pro-Israel voting bloc, though.
In 2003, Canada voted yes to 13 of the 16 resolutions on Israel and abstained on three. In 2004, it recorded its first two "No" votes, alongside the U.S. and Israel, and supported only 12 resolutions. After Stephen Harper came to power in 2006, the "No" and abstention votes gradually increased.
After Harper won a majority government in 2011, Canada voted "No" on 14 of the 16 resolutions, abstaining on another. From that point onward, the only "Yes" vote before today was on a non-controversial motion calling for assistance for Palestinians displaced by conflict.
Trudeau's Liberal government has maintained the voting pattern it inherited from the Harper government — until now.
That voting pattern continued in spite of the fact that it clearly undermined another Canadian foreign policy goal: winning a seat on the UN Security Council.
Resolution condemns occupation, barrier
The resolution that Canada supported today does not include harsh language condemning Israel — language Canada has objected to in the past. It does, however, contain language that criticizes the barrier wall Israel has built close to (but not always on) the 1949 armistice line that most countries consider to be the real border of Israel.
It also stresses "the urgency of achieving without delay an end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967" and calls on all states "to continue to support and assist the Palestinian people in the early realization of their right to self-determination."
A Global Affairs Canada official, speaking on background, told CBC that of all the resolutions, this was the easiest to adopt. The official said Canada could vote differently than it has in the recent past on resolutions regarding Israel that are coming up in November and December, although there are no current plans to do so.
Strong reactions at home
It is unusual for a country to switch votes at the UN directly from a "No" to a "Yes" on the same issue. Usually, nations signalling a change of policy simply abstain from the vote. By reversing its vote, Canada's UN delegation sent a clear message that immediately caused strong reactions at home.
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs condemned the vote in a statement:
"This afternoon, Canada joined with the anti-Israel chorus at the UN and voted in favour of a General Assembly resolution co-sponsored by North Korea, Zimbabwe and the PLO that condemns Israel's presence in Jerusalem and characterizes it as 'Occupied Palestinian Territory'.
"Canadian support for the resolution represents a dramatic departure from a 10-year record of principled opposition to UN resolutions that single out Israel for condemnation and ignore Palestinian intransigence and provocations aimed at sabotaging efforts to advance peace and reconciliation."
CIJA National Co-Chair Joel Reitman added that "while Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland offered assurances that no other changes in vote were being contemplated, we are very disappointed that the Government of Canada did not stand firm in opposition to the annual Israel-bashing ritual at the UN General Assembly.
"That neither this resolution nor any other currently being considered even acknowledge the obscene barrage of Palestinian-launched rockets and missiles raining down on Israel's civilian population reflects just how distorted and one-sided these resolutions are."
'A slap to Trump'
But the change was welcomed by Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East, a group which has long lobbied for what it calls a more even-handed approach to the conflict.
"We are extremely pleased that the Liberal government has voted in support of Palestinian self-determination at the UN," said CJPME's Miranda Gallo. "This is a long overdue step and is entirely consistent with the government's support for a two-state solution in Israel-Palestine.mIn fact, Canada could not support a 'two state' solution if it did not support the creation of a Palestinian state."
Noting that "the Liberal government has changed its position as compared to previous years," Gallo added: "This may be a slap on the wrist to the Trump government to communicate that, given Pompeo's outlandish statement in support of illegal Israeli colonies, Canada feels the U.S. is failing to provide fair leadership on the Israel-Palestine conflict.
"The Liberal government may have also concluded that it can no longer ape the lopsided positions asserted by Israel and the U.S. on these resolutions, which have overwhelming support at the UN and overwhelming support among many Canadians."
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/un-palestinian-vote-canada-israel-us-1.5365637
Evan Dyer·CBC News·Posted: Nov 19, 2019 6:54 PM ET |
Canada voted for a UN resolution this afternoon in support of Palestinians' right to self-determination.
The vote marks a major departure for Canada, which has declined to support substantially the same resolution through 14 consecutive votes since Stephen Harper came to power in 2006.
Tuesday's resolution was opposed by Israel, the United States and three Pacific island nations that depend heavily on U.S. aid and tend to vote with Washington at the UN: the Marshall Islands, Nauru and the Federated States of Micronesia.
Speaking on background, an official at Global Affairs Canada said the vote sends a message that Canada does not agree with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's assertion on Monday that Israeli settlements in the Occupied Territories are "not, per se, inconsistent with international law."
The official added that Canada has in the recent past opposed motions that are consistent with its own policy positions — to send a message that it considered the UN's focus on Israel's sins one-sided and inconsistent with the treatment of other nations. The official said that today's vote reflected core Canadian principles on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which include embracing a two-state solution with viable borders for both peoples.
A significant reversal
The vote represents a sudden shift in the direction of Canada's policies on the Middle East, which began to drift toward a more pro-Israeli stance under former Liberal prime minister Paul Martin. That trend accelerated dramatically under the Conservative government of Stephen Harper.
There are 16 UN resolutions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that come up every year, dealing with issues such as sovereignty, refugees, East Jerusalem, human rights, settlements and holy places. All of them are passed by overwhelming majorities while being opposed by the United States and Israel, which are sometimes joined by a handful of other nations. Those other nations typically include an assortment of Pacific islands — none of which can boast the population of Kelowna, B.C. — and Canada.
Canada was not always a member of the small pro-Israel voting bloc, though.
In 2003, Canada voted yes to 13 of the 16 resolutions on Israel and abstained on three. In 2004, it recorded its first two "No" votes, alongside the U.S. and Israel, and supported only 12 resolutions. After Stephen Harper came to power in 2006, the "No" and abstention votes gradually increased.
After Harper won a majority government in 2011, Canada voted "No" on 14 of the 16 resolutions, abstaining on another. From that point onward, the only "Yes" vote before today was on a non-controversial motion calling for assistance for Palestinians displaced by conflict.
Trudeau's Liberal government has maintained the voting pattern it inherited from the Harper government — until now.
That voting pattern continued in spite of the fact that it clearly undermined another Canadian foreign policy goal: winning a seat on the UN Security Council.
Resolution condemns occupation, barrier
The resolution that Canada supported today does not include harsh language condemning Israel — language Canada has objected to in the past. It does, however, contain language that criticizes the barrier wall Israel has built close to (but not always on) the 1949 armistice line that most countries consider to be the real border of Israel.
It also stresses "the urgency of achieving without delay an end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967" and calls on all states "to continue to support and assist the Palestinian people in the early realization of their right to self-determination."
A Global Affairs Canada official, speaking on background, told CBC that of all the resolutions, this was the easiest to adopt. The official said Canada could vote differently than it has in the recent past on resolutions regarding Israel that are coming up in November and December, although there are no current plans to do so.
Strong reactions at home
It is unusual for a country to switch votes at the UN directly from a "No" to a "Yes" on the same issue. Usually, nations signalling a change of policy simply abstain from the vote. By reversing its vote, Canada's UN delegation sent a clear message that immediately caused strong reactions at home.
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs condemned the vote in a statement:
"This afternoon, Canada joined with the anti-Israel chorus at the UN and voted in favour of a General Assembly resolution co-sponsored by North Korea, Zimbabwe and the PLO that condemns Israel's presence in Jerusalem and characterizes it as 'Occupied Palestinian Territory'.
"Canadian support for the resolution represents a dramatic departure from a 10-year record of principled opposition to UN resolutions that single out Israel for condemnation and ignore Palestinian intransigence and provocations aimed at sabotaging efforts to advance peace and reconciliation."
CIJA National Co-Chair Joel Reitman added that "while Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland offered assurances that no other changes in vote were being contemplated, we are very disappointed that the Government of Canada did not stand firm in opposition to the annual Israel-bashing ritual at the UN General Assembly.
"That neither this resolution nor any other currently being considered even acknowledge the obscene barrage of Palestinian-launched rockets and missiles raining down on Israel's civilian population reflects just how distorted and one-sided these resolutions are."
'A slap to Trump'
But the change was welcomed by Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East, a group which has long lobbied for what it calls a more even-handed approach to the conflict.
"We are extremely pleased that the Liberal government has voted in support of Palestinian self-determination at the UN," said CJPME's Miranda Gallo. "This is a long overdue step and is entirely consistent with the government's support for a two-state solution in Israel-Palestine.mIn fact, Canada could not support a 'two state' solution if it did not support the creation of a Palestinian state."
Noting that "the Liberal government has changed its position as compared to previous years," Gallo added: "This may be a slap on the wrist to the Trump government to communicate that, given Pompeo's outlandish statement in support of illegal Israeli colonies, Canada feels the U.S. is failing to provide fair leadership on the Israel-Palestine conflict.
"The Liberal government may have also concluded that it can no longer ape the lopsided positions asserted by Israel and the U.S. on these resolutions, which have overwhelming support at the UN and overwhelming support among many Canadians."
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/un-palestinian-vote-canada-israel-us-1.5365637
Backing Israeli violence has only lead to apartheid.
And what negotiations? Israel hasn't had any for years now.
I'm sure basketcase will continue to support Trudeau's positions on Israel/Palestine.
The UNGA is anti-Semitic, that’s pretty obvious. It’s also democracy for despots and dictators. It’s why nothing real happens in the UNGA. The adults decide in the security council
