The HyperTexts
The NAKBA (the Holocaust of the Palestinians)
Roll Call of Shame:
42 United Nations Security Council Resolutions Vetoed Unilaterally by the United
States
by
Michael R. Burch
Why has the United States vetoed 42 UN resolutions regarding Israel and the
Palestinians unilaterally? Why is the United States consistently the
only UN security council member to support the terrible, brutal racial injustices of
Israel? Why does the government of the United States hypocritically preach the
glories of "equal rights," "justice" and "self-determination" to the rest of the
world, while denying "all the above" to completely innocent Palestinian women
and children, who have suffered and died beneath the wheels of Israel's grinding
injustices for more than sixty years? Why doesn't the government of the United
States simply require Israeli Jews to do what Americans did themselves, when
they abandoned Jim Crow laws, kangaroo courts and public lynchings, during the
days of the American Civil Rights movement? Why don't Americans put two and two
together, and realize that 9-11 and the subsequent wars were the direct result
of Jews and Christians practicing racism and intolerance against innocent Muslim
women and children? Here is a "roll call" of UN votes that Americans should
study and understand, if they want peace rather than war:
Calls on Israel to withdraw its forces from Gaza and cease attacks that endanger
Palestinian civilians; calls on both sides to cease violence, abide by
international law, and resume peace negotiations — Vetoed
10-1 (US) with four abstentions — Nov 11, 2006
Calls for the release of abducted Israeli soldier, release of all
illegally-detained Palestinian civilians, and an end to Israel's
disproportionate use of force against the people of Gaza — Vetoed 10-1 (US) with
four abstentions — July 13, 2006
Demands an end to Israel's excessive use of force against civilian areas in Gaza
and calls on both sides to abide by the Road Map — Vetoed
11-1 (US) with three abstentions — Oct 5, 2004
Calls on Israel to abide by the Fourth Geneva Convention,
respect international humanitarian law, and refrain from home demolitions in
Rafah — Passed 14-0, but with US abstention — May 19, 2004
Condemns the extrajudicial execution of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin
along with six other Palestinians outside a mosque in Gaza City and condemns all
terrorist attacks against civilians — Vetoed 11-1 (US) with three abstentions
— March 25, 2004
Decides that the route of Israel's "Security Wall," which juts
deep into Palestinian territory, involves illegal de facto annexation of
Palestinian land and demands that the route conform to the
internationally-recognized border — Vetoed 10-1 (US) with four abstentions
— Oct
14, 2003 (the International Court of Justice reached the same conclusion in July
2004)
Demands an end to all acts of violence, terror, and
destruction and demands that Israel cease all threats to harm or deport Yasser
Arafat, the elected President of the Palestinian Authority — Vetoed 11-1 (US)
with three abstentions — Sept 16, 2003
Condemns the killing by Israeli forces of several UN
employees, including one international staff member in the Jenin refugee camp,
as well as the deliberate destruction of a World Food Programme warehouse full
of food for needy Palestinians, and demands that Israel abide by the Geneva
Conventions — Vetoed 12-1 (US) with two abstentions — Dec 20, 2002
Condemns acts of terror; demands an end to violence and
encourages the establishment of a monitoring mechanism to help both parties
implement confidence-building measures — Vetoed 12-1 (US) with two abstentions
— Dec 14, 2001
Calls on both sides to implement the Sharm El-Sheikh
agreements, urges cessation of all violence and collective punishment, calls for
cessation of settlement expansion, and calls for a UN Observer Force in the West
Bank and Gaza — Vetoed 9-1 (US) with four abstentions — Mar 27, 2001
Demands that Israel cease construction of the settlement on
Jabal Abu Ghneim in East Jerusalem (called Har Homa by Israel) and halt all
other settlement activity in the occupied territories — Vetoed 13-1 (US) with
one abstention — Mar 21, 1997
Calls on Israel to refrain from all activities, including
settlement expansion, which alter the facts on the ground, pre-empt final status
negotiations, and have negative implications for the Middle East Peace Process;
Calls upon Israel to abide by the Geneva Conventions and calls upon all parties
to continue and abide by peaceful negotiations — Vetoed 14-1 (US)
— Mar 7, 1997
Confirms that the expropriation of land by Israel in East
Jerusalem is invalid and in violation of relevant Security Council resolutions
and provisions of the Fourth Geneva convention; Expresses support for the peace
process, including the Declaration of Principles of September 1993 — Vetoed 14-1
(US) — May 17, 1995
Calls for a commission of three Security Council members to be
dispatched to examine the situation relating to the policies and practices of
Israel in the Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, and recommend
means for ensuring the safety and protection of Palestinian civilians under
Israeli military occupation — Vetoed 14-1 (US) — May 31, 1990
Calls on Israel to abide by the Geneva Convention relative to
the protection of civilians in wartime and desist from arbitrary confiscations
of land and property in the occupied territories, as occurred in Beit Sahur
(S/20945/Rev.1) — Vetoed 14-1 (US) — Nov 6, 1989
Calls on Israel to abide by the Geneva Conventions and cease
deportations of Palestinian civilians, school closures, and other violations in
the occupied territories, including Jerusalem; Calls for Israel to permit those
civilians already deported to return (S/20677) — Vetoed 14-1 (US)
— June 8, 1989
Calls on Israel to abide by the Fourth Geneva Convention and
desist from illegal policies in the occupied territories, such as indiscriminate
firing into civilian areas, which has resulted in increased injuries and deaths
of innocents, particularly children (S/20463) — Vetoed 14-1 (US)
— Feb 17, 1989
Condemns the Israeli attack against civilians in Southern
Lebanon on 9 December 1988 and once again calls for the immediate withdrawal of
all Israeli forces from Lebanon (S/20322) — Vetoed 14-1 (US) — Dec 14, 1988
Condemns the invasion by Israeli forces of Southern Lebanon,
particularly the devastation of the entire village of Meidoun, and calls for the
immediate withdrawal of all Israeli forces from Lebanese territory (S/19868) —
Vetoed 14-1 (US) — May 10, 1988
Demands that Israel rescind orders to deport Palestinian
civilians, permit those already deported to return, and cease its illegal policy
of collective punishment in the occupied territories, such as the demolition of
homes in the village of Beita; Condemns the assault on Sheikh Saad Eddin
El-Alami, Head of the Supreme Islamic Council, by Israeli forces in Jerusalem on
1 April 1988 (S/19780) — Vetoed 14-1 (US) — Apr 14, 1988
Calls on Israel to accept de jure applicability of the 4th
Geneva Convention in the occupied territories; Urges Israel to cooperate with
the activities of the International Committee of the Red Cross and UNRWA in the
occupied territories; Affirms the urgent need to achieve comprehensive peace
(S/19466) — Vetoed 14-1 (US) — Jan 29, 1988
Calls on Israel to cease encroachments on Lebanese territory,
including the construction of roads and fences that violate Lebanese
sovereignty, withdraw all its military forces to the to the
internationally-recognized borders, and desist from attacks against civilians
(S/19434) — Vetoed 13-1 (US) with one abstention — Jan 18, 1988
Condemns the Israeli interception and detention of a civilian
Libyan aircraft (S/17796/Rev.1) — Vetoed 10-1 (US) with four abstentions
— Feb
6, 1986
Reaffirms that all attempts by Israel to alter the physical
character, demographic composition, institutional structure or status of the
occupied territories, including Jerusalem -- through expropriation of land,
construction of settlements, population transfer, etc. -- is invalid and in
violation of relevant Security Council resolutions and the Fourth Geneva
convention; Calls on Israel to respect Muslims holy sites and refrain from
provocative actions, such as those committed by Knesset members and Security
Forces at Haram Al-Sharif in Jerusalem (S/17769/Rev.1) — Vetoed 13-1 (US) with
one abstention — Jan 30, 1986
Calls on Israeli forces occupying Southern Lebanon to cease
committing human rights violations against civilians, which undermine
reconciliation efforts, and withdraw immediately (S/17730/Rev.2) — Vetoed 11-1
(US) with three abstentions — Jan 17, 1986
Calls on Israel to cease repressive measures taken in the West
Bank and Gaza since 4 Aug 1985, including curfews, administrative detentions,
and deportations (S/17459) — Vetoed 10-1 (US) with four abstentions
— Sept 13,
1985
Calls on Israeli forces occupying the western Beka and Rashaya
districts of Southern Lebanon to cease the illegal measures taken against
civilians and to withdraw from Lebanon immediately; Urges that a fact-finding
mission be deployed to monitor conditions in this region (S/17000) — Vetoed 11-1
(US) with three abstentions — Mar 11, 1985
Demands that Israel immediately lift all restrictions to the
freedom of movement of civilians and goods in Southern Lebanon (particularly the
closing of roads and crossings) as well as obstructions to Lebanese government
institutions and personnel; Calls on all parties to respect the Fourth Geneva
Convention (S/16732) — Vetoed 13-1 (US) with one abstention — Sept 6, 1984
Reaffirms that Israeli settlement construction in the occupied
territories violates international law, undermines efforts towards a just and
comprehensive peace, and should not be facilitated by any State. Calls on Israel
to dismantle illegal settlements, cease expulsions of Palestinian citizens, and
desist from attacks against civilians, such as the killing and wounding of
students at the Islamic college in Al-Khalil on 26 July 1983 (S/15895) — Vetoed
13-1 (US) with one abstention — Aug 1, 1983
Deplores Israel's noncompliance with previous resolutions
aimed at halting the bloodshed in Beirut, and calls for the cessation of
military aid to Israel until its full withdrawal from Lebanon (S/15347/Rev.1, as
orally amended) — Vetoed 11-1 (US) with three abstentions — Aug 6, 1982
Calls upon all parties to the conflict in Lebanon to respect
the rights of civilians and cease hostilities immediately. Calls upon
Palestinian and Israeli forces to simultaneously withdraw from Beirut; Suggests
the deployment of UN observers and forces in the region to support the Lebanese
government (S/15255/Rev.2) — Vetoed 14-1 (US) — June 25, 1982
Calls on all parties to the conflict in Lebanon to immediately
cease hostilities and comply with the Hague Convention of 1907; Calls on Israel
to withdraw its forces from Lebanon (S/15185) — Vetoed 14-1 (US)
— June 8, 1982
Condemns the shooting of worshippers at the holy site of
al-Haram al-Shareef (the sanctuary of the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa
Mosque) in Jerusalem by armed Israelis; Calls on Israel to refrain from
hindering the Higher Islamic Council's established functions in Jerusalem
(S/14985) — Vetoed 14-1 (US) — Apr 20, 1982
Denounces Israel's dismissal of elected mayors in Nablus and
Ramallah and disbanding of the elected munipal council in El Bireh; Calls on
Israel to cease measures taken in the West Bank, Gaza, and Syrian Golan Heights
that violate the Fourth Geneva Convention and damage prospects for peace
(S/14943) — Vetoed 13-1 (US) with one abstention — Apr 1, 1982
Strongly condemns Israel's annexation of the Syrian Golah
Heights on 14 Dec 1981 and determines it an act of aggression as defined by
Article 39 of the UN Charter; Calls on all member states and UN agencies to
refrain from providing any assistance, aid, or cooperation with Israel in order
to deter Israel in its policies and practices of annexation (S/14832/Rev.2) —
Vetoed 9-1 (US) with five abstentions — Jan 19, 1982
Reaffirms the inalienable right of Palestinian
self-determination and statehood, the right of return for Palestinian refugees,
as well as the right of those refugees not wishing to return to receive
compensation for their property. Calls on Israel to withdraw from all
territories occupied since June 1967 (S/13911) — Vetoed 10-1 (US) with four
abstentions — Apr 28, 1980
Reaffirms the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to
self-determination, including the right of return for refugees and to national
independence and sovereignty in Palestine (S/12119) — Vetoed 10-1 (US) with four
abstentions — June 29, 1976
Calls on Israel to cease all measures (including land
expropriation and settlement construction) aimed at altering the character
(demographic, religious, and legal) of the occupied territories, particularly
Jerusalem (S/12022) — Vetoed 14-1 (US) — Mar 24, 1976
Reaffirms the right of Palestinian self-determination and
statehood, the right of return for Palestinian refugees, as well as the right of
those refugees not wishing to return to receive compensation for their property;
Calls on Israel to withdraw from all territories occupied since 1967, including
Jerusalem (S/11940) — Vetoed 9-1 (US) with three abstentions — Jan 23, 1976
Determines that Israel's massive air attacks against Lebanon
were indiscriminate, premeditated, and in violation of the UN Charter and
Security Council Resolutions; Calls on Israel to desist from all military
attacks against Lebanon (S/11898) — Vetoed 13-1 (US) with one abstention
— Dec
5, 1975
Calls on all parties to the situation in the Middle East to
cooperate with the efforts of the Special Representative to the UN Secretary
General; Deplores Israel's continued occupation of the territories occupied
since 1967 (S/10974) — Vetoed 13-1 (US) — July 24, 1973
Calls on all parties to the deteriorating situation in the
Middle East to cease military operations and exercise greater restraint in the
interest of peace and security (S/10784) — Vetoed 13-1 (US) with one abstention
— Sept 10, 1972
We can hardly accuse the nations of the world of not trying to help.
It is simply not true that the United Nations is "the problem." The main problem
is clearly the governments of Israel and the United States colluding to deny the
Palestinian people their self-evident rights to freedom, justice and
self-determination. This collusion is driven by Jewish and Christian
fundamentalism, and the lust of Jewish "settlers" (i.e., robber
barons) to strip the Palestinians of their
remaining land and water resources. The result is the suffering and premature
deaths (i.e., murders) of completely innocent Palestinian women and children.
This "roll call of shame" is therefore also a roll call of larceny, mayhem and murder.
The HyperTexts