Amid Netanyahu-Obama Tensions, US Abstains From Taking Floor To Defend Israel At UNHRC

[Purveyor]

The step is unprecedented at the 47-member state forum where Washington unfailingly defends Israel.

By TOVAH LAZAROFF, REUTERS \ 3/23/2015

The United States will not take the floor at the United Nations Human Rights Council on Monday as it debates human rights violations committed in the Palestinian territories, a US spokesman told Reuters.

The step is unprecedented at the 47-member state forum, where Washington has unfailingly defended Israel since US President Barack Obama became president in 2009.

The decision not to appear follows signals that the Obama administration is undertaking a "reassessment" of relations with the Jewish state.

"The US delegation will not be speaking about Palestine today," a US spokesman in Geneva told Reuters in response to a query as the debate began. He declined further comment.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's allies acknowledged on Sunday that his election-eve disavowal of a Palestinian state had caused a rift with the White House, but blamed Obama's unprecedented criticism on a misunderstanding.

more...

http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Amid-Netanyahu-Obama-tensions-US-abstains-from-taking-floor-to-defend-Israel-at-UNHRC-394796

[Fred Sanders]

1. Backfire Bibi has not yet announced a majority coalition, has he?

[Purveyor]

3. Not yet but there is this:

Benjamin Netanyahu scores majority needed to form government

By Nick Gass

3/23/15 7:10 AM EDT

Updated 3/23/15 2:04 PM EDT

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has secured the requisite majority of parliamentary members to form a government, according to reports from the country’s media. Israeli President Reuven Rivlin continued to meet with factions Monday.

Representatives from Kulanu — a crucial centrist swing party — met with Rivlin to recommend that the Likud party’s Netanyahu be tasked with forming a new government, giving the current prime minister the absolute majority of 61 votes in his favor.

“We nominate Netanyahu and the broader the base of the coalition the better it will be for all of us,” said party leader Moshe Kahlon, according to the Jerusalem Post.

Rivlin was also scheduled to meet Monday with party representatives from Yisrael Betenyu and Meretz to get their nominations for prime minister.

The president met with Likud, Zionist Union, Jewish Home, Shas, United Torah Judaism and Joint List factions on Sunday, according to The Times of Israel, with 51 of 88 Knesset members he met with recommending Netanyahu to lead the next government. Kulanu would put Netanyahu over the top.

The Zionist Union, led by Netanyahu opponent Isaac Herzog, and the Joint List, composed of four Arab parties, were the only two factions with which Rivlin met that declined to support the prime minister.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/03/netanyahu-israel-government-majority-116300.html#ixzz3VEeMlBNw

[jeff47]

4. Nope. And it's hard to see how he'll do it.

He'll still get first chance to form a government, but it's going to take a hell of a lot of effort to get the centrists on-board. We'll see if he can pull it off.

[geek tragedy]

5. Kulanu are former Likud, they'll name their price and get it, and that will be that nt

[jeff47]

6. Depends on what price ZU offers. (nt)

[geek tragedy]

7. ZU is offering nothing, both they and Likud have said they won't be in the new government

There's a total of 67 votes pledged for the new government, publicly announced today:

Likud
Yisrael Beitenu
Jewish Home
Shas
UTJ
Kulanu

The other 53 are:
Yesh Atid
Joint List
ZU
Meretz

[jeff47]

8. There's 67 votes saying Likud should try for a new government

They haven't voted to actually form it yet - still some backroom dealing going on. If ZU convinces Kulanu they have a better deal, then Likud won't have enough votes and ZU will.

We'll just have to see where they end up.

[oberliner]

10. Kulanu has already said they would support the Likud coalition

I doubt they will be convinced otherwise.

[geek tragedy]

2. If Israel can't be bothered to defend itself there, why should the US do it for them? nt

[Jefferson23]

9. Well look at that.

K&R

Who is going to join Bibi in their coalition when it is being made clear they may
lose the seamless support for the occupation? Interesting time in history...wow.

[totodeinhere]

11. Don't worry, there are plenty of right wingers ready willing and able to join the

government.

[Jefferson23]

12. I suppose so, and this will make it that much easier for Obama to expose that element within

the parties, as opposed to the focus being only on Likud.

[Hulk]

13. Bravo!!!

Finally, some good may come from bibi's insulting visit.

[Hulk]

14. We need to CUT ALL TIES with Israel

We don't "need them" nor benefit from our relation with them. They are the thorn in the side of the whole Middle East. Let them fend for themselves. They may just learn how to compromise and "get along" with their neighbors instead of constantly antagonize them, with US covering their slimy backs.

[totodeinhere]

15. They are THE thorn in the side of the whole Middle East?

Never mind ISIS and Al Queda, right?

[Hulk]

16. Beside the point..

Right...ISIS, al Qaeda, Boko Haram, etc, etc are definitely major problems for the Middle East, Africa and the world at large. Might as well throw in Putin, North Korea and a bunch of other crazy shit holes in the world.
My point, rather directly, is that Israel is a definite thorn in the side of ALL their neighbors. They are hated, loathed, and even reason for the USA being in that dung heap in the first place.
You want to tell me they aren't "a thorn in the side" to all the Arab nations in the Middle East? Good luck with that one.
I won't waste our time refreshing your knowledge of how they were plopped in the middle of the Middle East in 1947, but I will remind you that they have done everything in their power since then to oppress the Palestinians, bomb them to oblivion, and steal more of their land every year since then.
Yes...they are a thorn in the side of the Middle East. There are other ugly thorns as well, many having been created by the actions of Israel..Hamas being just one unmentioned name so far.
If you believe we would be over there in that part of the world if it wasn't for Israel and their grip on our government; I've got a few bridges I'd like to show you.

[totodeinhere]

17. You said "the thorn in the side of the whole Middle East." If you had substituted the word "a" for

for the word "the" I would not have had a problem with your comment even though I might not have totally agreed with it. But I noticed in your reply you wrote they are "a definite thorn in the side of ALL their neighbors." So I will accept that correction and move on.

Regarding your statement that "they were "plopped in the middle of the Middle East in 1947," remember that the establishment of Israel was perfectly legal as a result of UN General Assembly Resolution 181 upon the expiration of the British mandate in Palestine. It could only be deemed illegal if you do not accept the legitimacy of the UN.

[Colorado Vince]

18. oops

Looks like somebody's waking up!

[Doc Jekyll]

19. It's About Time.

Israel has some Nerve acing like the US Owes it something. Israel possesses Nuclear Weapons and has not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty, not has it allowed UN Inspections. The US has been giving Ad to israel Illegally. Our Treasonous Politicians sold us out and concealed the fact that israel has Nukes, so they could continue illegally supporting that Terrorist State. Israel murders and abuses thee Palestinians, including children., on a Daily Basis. One does Not have to hate Jews to hate israel. One need only be a Decent Human Being.