West Asia and the U.S. veto

An assertive veto on the Palestinian question by the U.S. in the United Nations Security Council is a sad commentary on the failure of the present Bush administration in Washington to energize the stalled West Asia peace process.

The United States has now openly upheld Israel's opposition to the proposal for the formation as also deployment of a U.N. observer force that could ensure the protection of the Palestinian civilians. The idea has been supported by a majority in the Security Council, including China and Russia as permanent members. Their reasoning is rooted in the empirical reality that most of those killed in recent months in the ongoing confrontation between the Palestinians and the Jewish people in West Asia belong to the former group.

Not surprisingly, therefore, the U.S. has taken the line that it is not averse to empathizing with the Palestinian civilians in the present West Asian context.

The U.S. is keen, nonetheless, to retain leverage as a credible and even-handed mediator in regard to the historical dispute between Israel and the Palestinians. Yet, it is a moot point whether and, if so, how long Washington will remain inclined to bend over backwards if necessary to keep the Palestinians in some measure of good humor in these circumstances.

A fine irony is that the U.S., which still swears by the efficacy of the decade-long U.N. sanctions against Iraq, is now seen to be wary of any intervention by the global organization in Israel's affairs.

-- The Hindu, New Delhi