This past Friday may go down in history as one of the darkest days in American foreign policy. On the day before the start of the Hanukkah celebrations in Israel and the start of Christmas Eve in the United States, the United Nations Security Council voted on a resolution that declared that the nation of Israel was a foreign occupier of lands won through wars in 1948 and again in 1967. Samantha Powers, our Ambassador to the United Nations, knowing the language of the resolution, decided to abstain from voting thus allowing the resolution to pass with a 14-0 vote.
Before we look at the consequences of that vote, I want to remind you that when the United Nations was created following World War 2, five nations were granted a permanent seat on the Security Council: the United States, Great Britain, France, Russia, and China. These were the Allied Nations against Germany and Japan during the War. (The other nine nations are appointed to specified terms on the Security Council). Those five member nations have incredible powers on the Security Council. A veto from any of them stops a resolution dead in its tracks. In the past the United States has used that veto power to protect Israel from resolutions that threatened the sovereignty of Israel. When the resolution condemning Israeli settlements in what was deemed "occupied territories" was first introduced last Thursday by the Egyptian representative on the Security Council, immediately Israel spoke out strongly against the resolution as did President-elect Trump, so the Egyptians withdrew the resolution. But on Friday, four nations - Venezuela, New Zealand, Senegal, and Malaysia - reintroduced the resolution. It was at that point that Ms. Powers, under authority from the Obama Administration, abstained from voting.
What does this resolution say? It basically condemns the continuation of settlement creation by Israel in those lands Israel achieved through victories over the Arab States in 1948, again in 1967, and again in 1973. These lands include Judea and Samaria - commonly called the West Bank - and East Jerusalem which is home to the Old City, the Western Wall, and the Temple Mount. When one reads the resolution with a deeper resolve, one finds that the intent is to declare that Israel has no right to East Jerusalem, Samaria, and Judea. There should be no Jews living in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City - which is the way it was from 1948 to 1967 when the Jordanians controlled East Jerusalem. There should be no Jews living in Judea and Samaria as well.
The reactions from our Congressional members was strong and bipartisan. Why would the outgoing administration take such a drastic measure against our strongest ally in the Middle East? Immediately questions were asked as to how this resolution could be undone. But, that is just the fact - it cannot be undone. Why? Because Russia and China have veto power over any resolution that would seek to overturn the one passed on December 23.
Yesterday Secretary of State John Kerry, in a 70 minute speech, sought to explain why the United States had abstained from voting on the resolution. He explained that the United Nations vote was about preserving the two-state solution. He went on to say, "If the choice is one state, Israel can be Jewish or Democratic - it can't be both." Let me remind Secretary Kerry that on more than one occasion, dating back to the days of Yassir Arafat, Israel has agreed to the creation of a Palestinian State, even to acceding land for its purposes. Each time such a proposal has been made, the Palestinian leadership has rejected that proposal - wanting more. Here is the question that should be asked, Secretary Kerry: Why don't the Palestinians want to live in a peaceful way with their Israeli neighbors? Instead of Israel being condemned, I believe it is time that the nations of the world wake up and realize that it has been the Palestinian leadership that should be condemned. It is their leadership that keeps the people stirred up. It is their leadership that honors those who die as supposed martyrs. It is their leadership that trains children to grow up hating Jews and those who live in Israel. Mr. Secretary, why aren't those questions being asked?
Furthermore, Palestinian President Abbas has stated strongly that in a Palestinians state there would be no room for any Jews. Really? Does that mean that Israel should retaliate and say that in Israel there would be no room for any Arabs? Does anyone think that Israel would do that? Of course not, Israel is a democratic state and welcoming.
Following Secretary Kerry's long speech, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu issued a rebuttal. As part of that rebuttal he made this statement: "We have it on absolutely incontestable evidence the U.S. organized, advanced and brought the resolution to the Security Council." He promised that the evidence would be shared with President Trump following his inauguration. If such evidence does occur and can be produced, it will be a condemning act of a desperate out-going Administration seeking to leave some kind of legacy behind.
What can a President Trump do? First of all he can join with members of Congress to defund the United Nations. Right now, the United States funds 22% of the expenses of the UN, so hitting them in the pocketbook would be a good place to start. Second, he can affirm his strong support for Israel by visiting there early in his administration or by inviting the Prime Minister to come to Washington. Third, he can move forward with a peace initiative - not dictating the terms, but being the silent partner in the negotiations.
Before I close this final blog for 2016, I want to make one comment concerning the timing of the resolution last week. It strikes me that the resolution was aimed not just at Israel as a political state, but at both the Jewish and Christian communities. Hanukkah is an Israeli celebration of peace over anarchy. You can read about this story in the First Book of Maccabees. We know it as the Festival of Light. Christmas is a time of peace and hope because the Messiah has been born. Let us remember that Jesus Christ was a Jewish Messiah. Perhaps I am reading too much into the timing of the resolution, but it just did not seem coincidental that it came when it did. So the attack upon Judeo-Christian beliefs continue. And, as we enter into a new year, I believe those assaults upon biblical foundational truths will continue. The world is coming apart at the seams and the hatred being shown against Christian principles is becoming more intense than at any time I can remember in my lifetime. Perhaps 2017 will be the year "the trumpet blows!" With that thought I can say, "Hallelujah!"
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