JINSA Report #620 Thank You, John Bolton

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November 13, 2006

JINSA Report #620

Thank You, John Bolton

On Saturday, the UN Security Council voted on an Arab-sponsored draft
resolution that sought to condemn the Israeli attack on Beit Hanoun in
which civilians were killed, and urge an immediate withdrawal of Israeli
forces from Gaza. Argentina, China, Congo, France, Ghana, Greece, Peru,
Qatar, Russia and Tanzania voted in favor of the draft. Britain,
Denmark, Japan and Slovakia abstained. U.S. Ambassador to the UN John
Bolton cast the U.S. veto. Excerpts from his remarks appear below.

"First, we are disturbed at language in the resolution that is, in
many places, biased against Israel and politically motivated...
Secondly, it remains an unbalanced text. Among many such examples are
the following: the preambular text equates Israeli military
operations, which are legal, with firing of rockets into Israel,
which are acts of terrorism. (Emphasis added) Moreover, its
characterization of Israeli military actions as ‘excessive and
disproportionate' constitutes a legal judgment that the Security
Council would be ill advised to make. Third, the proposed resolution
calls for the establishment of a fact-finding mission that is, at this
point, unnecessary and will do nothing to improve the situation on
the ground. The resolution further promises to consider the
establishment of an ‘international mechanism for protection of the
(Palestinian) civilian population' - a promise that is unwise and
unnecessary and, at any rate, raises false hopes.

"There is not a single... condemnation of the Hamas leadership's
statement that Palestinians should resume terror attacks on a broad
scale, or calls by the military wing of Hamas to Muslims worldwide to
strike American targets and interests. More terror, whether directed at
Israel or the United States or the European Union Office in Gaza City
is not the solution, nor will it enable the Palestinian people to
achieve their aspirations.

"It is the responsibility of any Palestinian Authority government
to prevent terror and take the necessary steps to stop attacks and
dismantle the terrorist infrastructure. Hamas has failed utterly in
this regard by continuing to play a role in perpetuating instability
and violence. The Palestinian people deserve leaders who are prepared
to renounce terror, accept the Quartet principles, and become a
legitimate partner in peace... The Road Map and the principles
contained therein remain the only agreed international basis upon
which to move forward towards the two-state goal.

"We call upon all members of the international community to support
the Road Map unequivocally. To that end the United States will vote
no on this resolution."

It is hard to think of a clearer statement of American policy. It is
hard to imagine a better representative for what we believe to be the
bipartisan American understanding that Israel has the right of
self-defense against Hamas's ongoing efforts to increase its arsenal in
Gaza, and inculcate Jew-hatred and the veneration of terrorism in the
population.

The new Democratic-led Senate should make clear its intention to confirm
Amb. Bolton to permanent status as a means of conveying American
unanimity on this point.

http://www.jinsa.org/JINSAReports/3593

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