US blocks United Nations call for independent probe into Gaza deaths

[DonViejo]

Source: CNBC

The United States blocked a United Nations (UN) Security Council statement drafted Monday that called for an independent investigation into the deaths of at least 58 Palestinians along the Israeli-Gaza border.

Monday represented the bloodiest day of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since Israel's invasion of Gaza in 2014.

The unrest coincided with the opening of the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem, a Trump administration directive widely condemned by the international community.

Natasha Turak | @NatashaTurak
Published 3 Hours Ago Updated 2 Hours Ago

The United States blocked a United Nations (UN) Security Council statement drafted Monday that called for an independent investigation into the deaths of at least 58 Palestinians along the Israeli-Gaza border.

Monday's violence followed several weeks of mass protests in the Israeli-blockaded territory of Gaza, which is governed by militant Islamist group Hamas. The unrest coincided with the opening of the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem, a Donald Trump administration directive widely condemned by the international community.

"The Security Council expresses its outrage and sorrow at the killing of Palestinian civilians exercising their right to peaceful protest," a draft of the statement read, which was seen and reported by AFP. "The Security Council calls for an independent and transparent investigation into these actions to ensure accountability."

The U.S. has used its veto power 43 times against UN resolutions concerning Israel.

Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/15/u-s-blocks-united-nations-call-for-independent-probe-into-gaza-deaths.html

[strangedaysindeed]

2. anyway now the blinders are off

their attempts at spinning who is responsible for what are an obvious joke.

the whole thing has been laid at our doorstep.

Israel and America deserve anything that happens to them.

[Stryst]

3. Isreal is just another spy agency for America

Hell, it's name should just be part of the letter soup. And, like all American intelligence assets, they can do whatever they want.

[karin_sj]

4. This is really outrageous

How does the US have the power to do this?

[hack89]

9. Russian and China do it all the time

the original seven members of the UN security council have a veto over all security council resolutions.

[NCjack]

5. I remember when Russia did reprehensible crap like this. We are now no better than them. nt

[paleotn]

6. Face it. We're now a pariah.

A rogue state. Common decency, fairness and respect for human rights are no longer part of our foreign policy and a significant part of our electorate like it that way. Beginning of the end of our great experiment? I hope not, but I'm not terribly optimistic right now.

[dembotoz]

10. well said

[sinkingfeeling]

7. And we tossed our white hats on the ground and stomped on them.

[riversedge]

8. It was the first time a U.S. official referred to Gaza as "southern Israel."

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/15/u-s-blocks-united-nations-call-for-independent-probe-into-gaza-deaths.html
............

Trump pledged the embassy move as part of his campaign, as well as pledging an ambitious plan for Middle East peace, for which Monday's events don't bode well.

But this seems to have been lost on the White House, whose spokesperson Raj Shah said: "The actions today, both the opening of the embassy in Jerusalem and these tragedies in southern Israel, we don't think will impact the peace plan." It was the first time a U.S. official referred to Gaza as "southern Israel."

More than 40 Palestinians had already been killed during six weeks of "right to return" protests culminating on May 15, which for residents of the occupied territories marks the day they lost their land and homes during the establishment of the Israeli state.