-Caveat Lector- Haaretz News Updates Thu., July 22, 2004 Av 4, 5764 Israel Time: 02:15 (GMT+3) Analysis / An ominous bellwether
By Aluf Benn, Haaretz Correspondent Nasser al-Kidwa, the Palestinian Ambassador to the UN, yesterday succeeded in killing two birds with one stone. He managed to transform the International Court of Justice's sharp advisory opinion about Israel's separation fence into an acrimonious resolution of the UN General Assembly, gaining another victory in the Palestinians' diplomatic campaign against the fence. He also managed to persuade the entire European Union to vote in favor of the resolution, thus furthering Israel's isolation in the international community and making its already complicated relations with Europe more strained. The huge majority which supported the resolution once again showed just how much international legitimization and support the Palestinians can count on. Israel may lock Yasser Arafat up in the Muqata in Ramallah, but behind the glass windows of the UN headquarters, there's a different picture. There Arafat holds sway while Israel is isolated in a corner with a small handful of friends - mainly the U.S. and Australia, which voted against the resolution, and Canada, which abstained. The UN resolution will not lead to the dismantling of the fence in the near future. There is also no intention - in the foreseeable future - of threatening Israel with economic or diplomatic sanctions. But the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem can chalk up a painful diplomatic failure. "The advisory opinion was turned into an obligatory resolution," they said yesterday. There are three aspects of the resolution that are particularly worrisome to Israel. First is the demand that Israel comply with the opinion of the judges from The Hague that the occupation, the settlements, and the fence in the territories are all illegal, and with their demand to dismantle the "wall" and compensate the Palestinians. The second is the intention to set up a UN database on Palestinian properties damaged by building the fence. And the third is the call for a meeting of the signatories to the Geneva Conventions - a forum that does not bode well for Israel and spells further condemnation and isolation. The immediate implications of the resolution relate to Israel's ties with Europe. The 25 countries of the European Union, and a similar number that vote like it, constitute the strongest force in the General Assembly. The European vote is a also source of international legitimacy because it represents the developed nations. Al-Kidwa used his timeworn tactic of presenting an extreme draft which he moderated slightly to the taste of the Europeans. Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom used the telephone to persuade his European counterparts to vote against. Israel was particularly offended by Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot, who used his influence as EU president to get a unanimous European vote instead of the split vote which Israel had hoped for until the last moment. European explanations of a "softened" version of the resolution were not received favorably in Jerusalem. When EU Foreign Minister Xavier Solana arrives here today, he is likely to find himself putting out the UN fire instead of working toward upgrading ties with Europe. Nevertheless, despite the disappointment and anger, Israel will not try to deepen the rift - after all, it will need European votes when the fence issue comes up for a new round in the UN in September. www.ctrl.org DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
