UN Security Council passes resolution calling for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza, as US shifts position by abstaining from vote
UN Security Council passes resolution calling for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza, as US shifts position by abstaining from vote
USA because it took this many decades to merely abstain and and not veto.
They’ve been vetoing, the proper action would have been to vote to pass.
Abstaining has exactly the same effect.
Sends a different message though.
The best time to abstain would have been decades ago, but the second-best time is now. Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good; this was a good choice.
Edit: The downvotes are hard to interpret. Do people think the US abstaining (and thus allowing the resolution to pass) was not a good choice?
Abstention is, by definition, the refusal to make a choice. And if you are not against oppression, then you favor the status quo.
That’s not how it actually works, though. They knew that by not opposing it would result in the measure passing. Choosing to abstain is a choice.
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I’m not saying there is. Obviously not.
To be absolutely clear for those who for some reason still aren’t understanding it at this point, choosing to abstain from voting on this resolution was the same as voting to support it. The US could have blocked this resolution and instead decided “no, we’ll let this one through.” Given that they could have blocked it but made a conscious decision not to block it, knowing that by not blocking it the resolution would pass, that was a decision in favor of this resolution.
What do people think I am saying, if not that?
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Do you understand the political mess involved in the ties between USA and Israel? There’s multiple factions whose support is conditional on WH supporting Israel. Biden isn’t just negotiating with Netanyahu, he’s negotiating with the rest of his own party and donors. He wouldn’t be able to vote for in UN without consequences, like political factions and donors moving to R instead.
They chose a course of action that allowed the right thing to happen.
As I said above, don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.