UN Resolution Hijacked By US, UK And France

international | anti-war / imperialism | news report

Friday January 09, 2009 09:11

by Miriam

Libyan draft summarily dismissed by the big three

Al Jazeera English have been reporting from the UN throughout the night about how the UN Resolution was adopted and how its terms are a capitulation to all of Israel's demands.

Described as a 'humiliation' for Hamas and the Gazans, the UN Resoution was forced through in highly unusual circumstances. Ghida Fakhry of AJ English was reporting throughout the night from the UN and describing how Arab delegates are extremely angry at what has happened to the UN Resolution. The original draft proposal by Libya was unilaterally hijacked by the US, UK and France and basic terms such as a call for an immediate end to the blockade of Gaza was stripped from the Libyan text along with other vital conditions. All contires had been asked to consider the Libyan draft for 24 hours when it was first put forward and when the delegates came back to the table they were confronted with an entirely new text drawn up by the US/UK and France and the Libyan one was dismissed. This is apparently highly unusual. She said the resolution is utterly humiliating for Hamas and the Gazans and that behind the scenes, the feeling among Arab delgates is one of anger and frustration. Bascially the triumvirate of powerful countries has railroaded a resolution which gives Israel everything it wants - 'the wording is so vague' Fakhry said. The resolution also does not specify to where the Israelis should withdraw so that there is every possibility that they will stay within the Strip. Marwan Bishra - AJ's Senior Political Analyst said, essentially, that Israel has been given carte blance. He pointed out that with no foreign observers in the Strip it was now entirely down to Israel to decide how things should proceed, and to say whether there had been a genuine ceasefire or not. The feeling among the analysts was that Israel had been given all the time it wanted to complete its plans and to determine how, when and to where they would withdraw - if at all. Commentators also observed that the protracted nature of the talks leading up to the resolution was in itself an attempt to buy Israel time to get the job done.

They also dismissed the so called 'UN call for an end to the ceasefire' which they said, if you look at the wording does not actually say what is being widely reported. UK. France and the US have said that they would support a call but are not actually calling for one right now, theirfore reports in the mainstream media that the call 'is being ignored' are incorrect.