US continues to act in defiance of world’s desire for just solution to Palestine issue

Two days after the United States vetoed a draft resolution recommending the granting of full membership of the United Nations to the State of Palestine, the US Congress approved $95 billion in foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel and other US allies. The US’ moves serve to show that Washington poses the biggest obstacle to resolving the crisis in the Middle East and getting much-needed humanitarian aid into Gaza. Despite its claims that it supports a two-state solution, the US continues to act to the contrary.

Justifying the US veto, US Deputy Permanent Representative Robert Wood said United Nations Security Council members have a special responsibility to ensure that their actions further the cause of international peace and security and are consistent with the requirements of the UN Charter.

Yet on Saturday, the US Congress, despite the domestic and international condemnation of Israel’s persecution of the Palestinians in Gaza, approved the provision of $26.3 billion in assistance to Israel in a bundle of US aid bills. While allocating $9.2 billion for humanitarian purposes, including in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, the bill stipulates that none of it should be used to fund the UN Relief and Works Agency, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. And of the rest, $5.2 billion is for replenishing and expanding Israel’s missile and rocket defense system; $3.5 billion for buying advanced weapons systems and $1 billion to enhance its weapons production; with $4.4 billion earmarked for other supplies and services to Israel.

It is hard to see how that furthers the cause of peace and security as the US’ support only provides more fuel for Israel’s war machine.

Since the Gaza conflict broke out on Oct 7, more than 34,000 Palestinians have been reportedly killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including 10,000 women. Over 1 million Palestinians are now facing starvation in the south of Gaza, with their lives under constant threat from Israeli bombing on a daily basis.

Yet, the grim situation in Gaza has failed to move those on Capitol Hill to show any compassion for the plight of the trapped Palestinians, instead they have stuck to their guns in support of Israel.

It seems the US’ favoritism to Israel has no limits, even though it is increasingly perceived as being complicit in what Tel Aviv is doing in Gaza.

To stand together with its closest Middle East ally, the US has cast off any pretense of being the champion of human rights.

Realizing lasting peace in the Middle East has proved to be a hard nut to crack for the international community. But a primary reason for that is the US not only lacks sincerity in mediating peace in the region it is also setting obstacles in the way of achieving that goal.

A glance at the US’ behavior since the Israel-Palestine conflict broke out unmistakably reveals that the US has adopted a two-faced approach. As Israel’s war continues to wreak havoc, high-ranking US officials, in the face of the fierce domestic and international pressure, issued scathing criticism of Israel’s inhuman conduct in Gaza. The US has also participated in hostage negotiations along with other players in the region, launched airdrops of aid in Gaza, and pushed Israel to open a second checkpoint in north Gaza to allow in more humanitarian assistance. Yet all these are essentially meaningless given the unwavering support the US gives to Israel either in terms of its military assistance or its diplomatic backing in the UN.

The recent flare-up in tensions between Israel and Iran represents another turn for the worse as it pushes the region toward a broader and hotter conflict. Washington should know its seemingly unconditional backing of Tel Aviv tarnishes its own credibility in the world arena and imperils the very fabric of peace and stability in the Middle East. Its self-serving and ill-judged Middle East policy has been the prime cause of the chaos in the Middle East, it is high time the US discarded its selfish and jejune calculations and behaved as a responsible member of the international community.