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House Resolution Supporting Illegal Israeli Settlements

Written by Subject: Israel - Palestine

House Resolution Supporting Illegal Israeli Settlements

by Stephen Lendman

Bipartisan neocons infest Congress. One-sided support for Israel's high crimes is longstanding - including settlement construction on stolen Palestinian land.

Security Council Resolution 2334 affirmed the illegality of Israeli settlements. They constitute a serious breach of international law, yet no action was ever taken to stop them, nor will there be now.

Israel vowed to ignore the ruling. So did most House members, Senate ones to follow. On Thursday, by a 342 - 80 majority, the House passed "Res. 11 - Objecting to United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334 as an obstacle to Israeli-Palestinian peace, and for other purposes."

Security Council resolutions are binding - UN Charter Article 25, saying "(t)he Members of the United Nations agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council in accordance with the present Charter."

Violations constitute breaches of international law. House Res. 11 and a similar Senate one have no legal standing - an affront to the legitimacy of a Congress willfully flouting inviolable law.

Res. 2334 minced no words affirming "the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force." The occupied territories belong to Palestine, not Israel, based on pre-June 1967 borders.

The resolution explicitly condemned "all measures aimed at altering the demographic composition, character and status of the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967 and East Jerusalem" - including "the construction and expansion of settlements, transfer of Israeli settlers, confiscation of land, demolition of homes and displacement of Palestinian civilians, in violation of international humanitarian law and relevant resolutions."

Condemnation this strong leaves no ambiguity. Yet Israel vowed to ignore it. So did the US Congress. House and Senate resolutions are virtually identical - calling for Res. 2334 to be "repealed or fundamentally altered."

A no longer viable two-state solution is urged - described as a "democratic, Jewish state of Israel and a demilitarized, democratic Palestinian state living side-by-side in peace and security."

Other legislation is planned to withhold some, or perhaps all, UN funding as long as Res. 2334 remains in force. Congress can do nothing to change its provisions. It remains binding international law - though nothing more than a slap in the face with no enforcement authority backing it.

As expected, AIPAC applauded the House measure, duplicitously saying Res. 2334 both undermines the prospects of productive, bilateral Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and one-sidedly criticizes Israel."

False on both counts. It gave Israel's apartheid regime a black eye, though little else. It did nothing to "set back the cause of peace (Israel categorically rejects) (or) harm (its) security" - both nonsensical notions.

Its passage changed nothing on the ground. Rogue state Israeli policies continue unabated. Palestinian suffering continues with no relief in prospect.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. 

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com. 

Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.


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