Israel faces flak

1/28/2016 5:05:48 PM

(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The US European Union and the United Nations have issued a stern criticism of Netanyahu's policy towards Palestinians and his stance on peace.

Israel has received an unusual censure over its settlement expansion which understandably has provoked a sharp reaction from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The United States European Union and the United Nations issued a stern criticism of Netanhahu’s policy towards Palestinians and stance on peace.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was especially blunt. He described Israel’s settlements as “provocative acts” that raised questions about its commitment to a two-state solution nearly 50 years after occupying lands the Palestinians seek for a state. He called the settlement building an affront to the Palestinian people and the international community questioned Israel’s commitment to the two-state solution and rejected the prospect of Israeli security measures on the West Bank bringing an end to the latest cycle of violence that began in October. What riled Netanyahu badly was the UN chief’s candid observation that the Palestinian violence was the result of frustration. “Palestinian frustration is growing under the weight of a half-century of occupation and the paralysis of the peace process” Ban told a UN security council meeting on Tuesday. “Security measures alone will not stop the violence. They cannot address the profound sense of alienation and despair driving some Palestinians – especially young people.” He said it was human nature to react to occupation which often “serves as a potent incubator of hate and extremism”. The Israeli prime minister accused Ban of supporting terrorism and said the UN has lost its neutrality and moral force a long time ago.” Ban deserves praise for speaking the truth and for not trying to mitigate criticism in diplomatic language.

Speaking at a security conference last week US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro pointed out the double standards of the Israeli government in applying law: “At times there seem to be two standards of adherence to the rule of law: one for Israelis and another for Palestinians.” This too elicited a sharp reaction from Netanyahu who doesn’t expect any US official to castigate his policies.

Some European states have been staunch supporters of the Palestinian cause. The European Union’s policy of labelling products made in Israeli settlements has dealt a huge blow to Israel. Israel branded Sweden’s foreign minister as an anti-Semite after she called for an independent investigation into Israel’s efforts to quell the current wave of violence.

The criticism of Israeli policies is not enough. The UN US and the European Union must force Netanyahu to abandon the settlement expansion which is killing the peace process. Ban said he was “deeply troubled” by reports that the Israeli government had approved plans for more than 150 new homes in “illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.

But these words must be translated into action.

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