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