U.S. veto

U.S. veto

The world was shocked by the U.S. decision to veto a UN
Security Council resolution on Israel's land confiscation in Arab
East Jerusalem. The vetoed resolution was sponsored by six of the
Council's non-aligned members: Indonesia, Botswana, Honduras,
Nigeria, Oman and Rwanda, and supported by its 14 council
members, including the four veto-holding members: France, Great
Britain, Russia and China.

As a matter of fact, the council's overwhelming support for
the resolution shows the positive and decisive position of the
international community against Israel's illegal action. The
Council's resolution condemns Israel's expropriation of 52
hectares of land in areas of Jerusalem captured in the 1967
Middle East War.

According to the Palestinians, and supported by 14 council
voters, the veto by the U.S. contradicts the Israel-PLO peace
deal and international accords. According to Israeli and U.S.
sources, the two conflicting parties should hold direct talks to
solve any problems.

One might wonder how such a situation could still prevail in
the UN. The domination of superpowers, the veto holders, is
unfair and illogical in this world body. The UN seems to be ruled
and dominated by a small but very influential Israel through its
strong and powerful ally: America. The U.S. veto is, according to
Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas, a clear violation of the
previous agreements, and also deviates from earlier Security
Council decisions on Israeli settlements.

How could Washington mediate the process, said Marwan
Kanafani, Yasser Arafat's spokesman, when America itself takes a
position that not only contradicts the core of the Declaration of
Principles (peace accord) and all the agreements after, but also
contradicts all the (pertinent) resolutions and international
agreements.

Head of the Islam Solidarity Committee Lukman Harun said his
organization strongly condemns the U.S. veto. This shows that
U.S. is a defender and protector of Israel.

I agree with The Jakarta Post editorial of May 19, 1995, that
by casting its veto against a UN text critical of Israel's
colonial policy, the U.S. again showed the international
community that the world body is not a decent place to solve
problems. The U.S. always pretends to be a beacon of democracy
and a champion of human rights.

In casting a veto against a UN resolution, the U.S.
(President) does not need the approval of the U.S. Congress.
Otherwise, would a majority of the Congress have given its
consent to veto a controversial UN resolution? I believe that not
only the Palestinians but the whole world is disappointed by the
American veto.

ALOYSIUS HARYONO

Jakarta