American duplicity

American duplicity

Thousands of demonstrators gathered Monday in front of the U.S. embassy in Jakarta. This largest-ever demonstration held against this superpower's mission came after Washington vetoed a UN Security Council resolution opposing the expansion of Jewish settlements in eastern Jerusalem last week. One of the sponsors of the resolution was Indonesia.

The world is justifiably disappointed at the American stance. The acts of terrorism which are among the chosen means of opposition to Israel and the U.S. have taken the lives of thousands of people who have nothing to do with the Arab-Israeli conflict. The anger of the masses gathered in front of the U.S. embassy in Jakarta was a reflection of the disappointment felt at the duplicity displayed by a big power which has abandoned the principle of justice.

We do not know for how long Washington will continue to pay Israel to fight the Arabs and Palestinians. As a self-proclaimed champion of democracy, the U.S. should realize that the annexation of territory by another country is an act that does not deserve to be supported.

Considering that in 1990 the U.S. started a war against Iraq for taking Kuwaiti territory, why is it now defending Israel, which annexed Palestinian land in eastern Jerusalem?

-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta