Many of you are probably aware that the Palestinians are working to bring a UN Security Council Resolution reaffirming the illegality and destructive effects of Israeli settlements in the West Bank. This presents difficulties for the Obama Administration.
Click here to see the difficulty the State Department spokesman, PJ Crowley has in explaining how the US can consider opposing a UN resolution so clearly in line with stated US policy.
Click here to see a letter signed by a slew of impressive names, former diplomats, ambassadors to Israel, and other well-known figures in diplomacy and Middle Eastern Studies, urging the President to go for a “yes” vote in the resolution.
The issue is a very complicated one, but I think that it is important that while we continue efforts to urge REAL negotiations towards a peaceful ME resolution of Israel-Palestine issues that we request forcefully that the US Administration NOT VETO this Anti-Settlement Resolution. This is an issue which has become totally anti-democratic and not in line with Israel’s own legal and ethical framework.
Please add additional voices to this effort for reasoned and hopefully lead to an appropriate resolution which would be in Israel’s long-term interests.
Shirley Rausher
Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention clearly states that transfer of population to occupied territory is illegal under international law. Despite this, about 500,000 Israeli settlers live illegally on occupied Palestinian land with the support of Israel’s government. Israeli settlements sever Palestinian communities, damage Palestinian livelihood and violate Palestinian rights. President Obama should support the draft UN Security Council resolution reaffirming the illegality of Israeli settlements and standing against the construction of future settlements. Sign a petition urging him to do so at http://www.aaper.org/notosettlements.