Opinion
Automatic American veto era is coming to an end
Alon Pinkas
Published: 17.12.14, 00:29
Comment Comment
Print comment Print comment
Back to article
20 Talkbacks for this article
1. Unless Security Iron Clad Wars Break out
Zechariah   (12.17.14)
The Jordan Valley Security is a Problem an Enormous Threat to Israel and Jordan .the IDF is Determined highly committed and Skilled Jewish Troops Guard and can respond from there.TheSettlements cannot be Dismantled but a land swap with Islamic Israel can happen.The Palestinian autonomy has to be a human rights democracy like postwar Germany and that means Holocaust Denial is a Crime .As Nazism is Condemned in Germany so also the Grand Muftis Collaboration with Nazism in WW2 ought be heavily condemned by the Palestinians .
2. Israel should consider withdrawing from the UN
Vlad   (12.17.14)
Then, it won't be legally bound by any Security Council resolutions.
3. Pinkas
David   (12.17.14)
The alignment on the part of the author, for whatever reasons-- ideological or political-- with the diplomatic assault on Israel is a disgrace. Any Israeli who supports Israel should support and defend maximal, not minimal, freedom of action for the government to defend Israel's national prerogatives-- and seek minimal, not maximal, Israeli concessions. Moreover even disregarding this basic principle of conduct, it is wholly indefensible to take pleaaure-- explicit or implicit-- in international attempts to restrict Israel's freedom of action, and it is equally indefensible to goad such pressure, and to erode the country's ability to resist it. On a separate but related note, I do not think that Netanyahu sought the passage of this resolution-- Israel has always worked assiduously to comply with security council dictates, even those against Israel's basic rights-- and Netanyahu's actions over all of these years suggest that he is a firm advocate and believer in those rights, quite unlike the author unfortunately. It does appear that the decision to veto may have been in part motivated by the belief that the passage of the resolution would have helped Netanyahu's reelection. I do not know if this reading of the reactions of the Israeli electotate is sound, but the fact that there is so much of a desire to remove him is another reminder of the fact that we absolutely need him. We need someone who negotiates for us, and who has the courage and nerve to preserve the most for us, not for the enemy.
4. Doomsday?
Dr Rob Lee ,   NYC   (12.17.14)
Lame Duck Obama, a steadfast hater of Israel, is on his way out and the majority of the American public support Israel. So does the GOP majority in congress. Only the American Left hates Israel like all Leftists worldwide in lauding in Israel. If Obama wants to screw things up for Hillary he & Leftist Kerry can mull all they want. But at the end of the day there'll be a veto & when the new US president gets sworn in it this mulling will be Obama's last stand against Israel.
5. Israel must act out of strength. Never fear
Chaim ,   Israel   (12.17.14)
Good decisions are always based on strength and self respect. The worst decisions are based on fear. That is why mobsters try to scare potential victims into self destructive decisions. It is also why Israel haters and leftists try to scare Israel into dumb destructive decisions. Israel must act out of strength. Never fear. Beginning with deciding to claim Judea and Samaria forever.
6. The American era is ending
Sasson ,   Haifa, Israel   (12.17.14)
Israel should be very well aware of this new reality. Stop depending on them.
7. its the end of the Obama era of veto not US era of veto
zionist forever   (12.17.14)
Obama has been the most anti Israel president in decades and since Kerry became Secretary of State things have got even worse. We might not be able to rely on Obama but considering that Congress has become much more pro Israel in a short term since the midterms shows that the problem is the individual president not US attitudes toward Israel as a whole.
8. Look at World Politics
EZEKIAL HAIM ,   London UK   (12.17.14)
You cannot do a political and diplomatic analysis while ignoring Syria,Ukraine ,South East Asia , Nato and Iran.Everything is connected.If the USA DOES not use its veto to support Israel, it would loose credibility against Russia and China.Why do you not analyse the consequences of that possibility.Russis has repeatedly used its veto to support Asad.USA loosing its political clout could mean the Return of the Soviet and the start of a Chinese Empire while Europe is a spent political and military power.
9. Obama is not America
tiki ,   belgium   (12.17.14)
Obama hates Israel (for being right) and is specially allergic to Netanyahu (for being right). For indeed, the world 'is against Israel, the UN 'is hypocritical and Israel 'is under a diplomatic siege. The world doesn't care if Israel is under siege, can defend itself or will survive....on the contrary, they wouldn't shed a tear. It's about time that some in the political echelon start listening to what the Arab Palestinians are saying & doing, instead of losing themselves in daydreaming & fantasies about how much the world cares for the 'good of the Jews & their state.
10. good point
(12.17.14)
Although Pinkas has always bee clearly aligned with the Left throughout his diplomatic career and through his wife's employer, he has made an excellent point that should not be dismissed. Ever since Obama's election, there was no promise of American support. This was clear to see during the last war, when Obama ordered Israel's airport close and imposed an arms embargo. What can Israel do? For six years Netanyahu has tried to preserve the alliance, hoping to survive the Obama years. Can Israel survive another two years? The other option is to seek an alliance with the Chinese who need to base anti-ship missiles in the Mediterranean to protect their interests, or with the Russians/Indians to make an arms consortium to challenge the Americans.
11. To #6, Sasson, Have heart
Edward ,   new york   (12.17.14)
The American era is not ending, but the Obama era is. With a new Republican President the era of apology tours and appeasement to our enemies and ill treatment to of allies (Israel) will end along with the pernicious pressure on Israel to endorse acts that amount to national suicide. Obama is not America. the majority of the people here and those in the Congress and the Senate support Israel wholeheartedly.
12. Big deal:it's been a "bitter" President we had to suck on...
(12.17.14)
13. count the days till both Obama & Bibi have gone
Brian ,   London   (12.17.14)
Together they have been a very poisonous cocktail for Israel. Still 2 years to go to get rid of Obama, but Israel has the opportunity to get rid of Bibi in March - not a moment too soon!
14. US Security Council Veto
Val Hollard ,   Raglan, New Zealand   (12.17.14)
Sadly, my country New Zealand will be on the UN Security Council from the beginning of January. Their desire is to downgrade or eliminate the veto rights that the five permanent members have.
15. @ 7
sheik rattle & roll ,   United States   (12.17.14)
Bibi is the most anti-American PM ever. He attempted to interfere in our domestic politics and slanders our elected leaders by proxy every opportunity he gets. The entire world votes against Israel at the UN that forces the US to VETO making us look like a weak state subservient to lobbyist, We support Israel a hundred percent, however every time the US uses it's VETO to protect Israel we lose points with are dozens of allies that are just as strategically important to us as Israel. It would be in the best interest of the US to abstain once in while. That will force some of the Israeli geniuses to try and come up with a workable solution that will benefit both sides. The bottom line is that Israel doesn't care about American interest and is probably the most arrogant and ungrateful ally America has ever had that behaves like America is indebted to it. Just listen to all the talk backers slandering the US because it might not use it's VETO. Why does the US have too if it doesn't want to? What does the US owe Israel? Can you or anybody honestly answer that?
16. Eli who's departure from what?
Mark B. ,   Amsterdam / Holland   (12.18.14)
"shock in the world". LOL
17. The problem aren't the two years
Avi L.   (12.19.14)
The real problem is the existence of Hamas as a "partner in peace" which is a complete nonsense. But the root of all this resides in the failure of our present political "leader(s)" to have ended Hamas existence as a palestinian faction. A Fatah ruled by some gangster held at short leash by Egypt/Saudi Arabia (both fed up of jihad) would have been a possibility. But thanks to some blue hued airdo selfish individual it's not the case, he even started talks with and thus legitimized Hamas which is building more tunnels and improved it's military doctrine for the next bloody round. So why blame two faced, yellow bellied, sold to gas interests foreign countries who've always been on the first row criticizing us and blaming us for the world terror?
18. The problem isn't the two years deadline
Avi L.   (12.19.14)
The real problem is considering Hamas as a "partner in peace" which is a complete nonsense. But the root of all this resides in the failure of our present political "leader(s)" to end Hamas existence as a palestinian faction. A Fatah ruled by some gangster held at short leash by Egypt/Saudi Arabia (both fed up of jihad) would have been a possibility. But thanks to some blue hued airdo selfish individual it's not the case, he even started talks with and thus legitimized Hamas which is building more tunnels and improved it's military doctrine for the next bloody round. So why blame two faced, yellow bellied, sold to gas interests foreign countries who've always been on the first row criticizing us and blaming us for the world terror?
19. The Ambassador is absolutley correct
James Loughton ,   U   (12.20.14)
As for the majority of the commentators who smugly take the US veto for granted - there are none so blind as those who will not see.
20. You misunderstand geopolitics
EZEKIAL HAIM ,   LONDON UK   (12.20.14)
The middle east contains many powers that seriously threaten American interests in the middle east.Take Iran which aspires to be a nuclear armed power and threaten american allies in the area i.e Jordan ,Saudi Arabia ,The gulf,Qatar ,Kuwait.Israel is a bull-work against Iranian hegemony in the area.In negotiations with Iran ,Israel's threat to bomb Iran is used as a lever to pressure Iran.Another example is Israeli intelligence which plays an important role in American and western security.There are many other examples but this makes the point.
Back to article