White House Signals It May Let Sanctions Against Israel Proceed At UN

The fallout from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's scorched earth re-election campaign continues. Now the White House is letting it be known that it may withdraw the longstanding US policy of mindlessly vetoing sanctions against Israel at the UN. Given that Israel is openly breaking international law with its settlement policy as well as its periodic slaughtering of civilians under the banner of "anti-terrorism" operations it is quite possible that the US withdrawing its protection could lead to sanctions.

According to Politico, officials within the Obama White House are furious over Netanyahu's declaration that if he was re-elected the two state solution was dead and said they were open to changing the US' policy of always covering for Israel at the UN. Changes in policy could include a move to stop opposing Palestine's efforts to enter International Criminal Court, allow sanctions for settlements to proceed, and support international demands for Israel to withdraw from the Palestinian territories.

Given the US Congress' cartoonish support for Prime Minister Netanyahu it appears unlikely that there will be any cut off of us aid to Israel, but by simply letting the international system work President Obama can put a lot of pressure on the Israeli government.

“The positions taken by the prime minister in the last days of the campaign have raised very significant substantive questions that go far beyond just optics,” said a senior administration official, adding that recent Israeli government actions were in keeping with Netanyahu’s rhetoric. 

While saying it was “premature” to discuss Washington’s policy response, the official wouldn’t rule out a modified American posture at the United Nations, where the U.S. has long fended off resolutions criticizing Israeli settlement activity and demanding its withdrawal from Palestinian territories.

It is telling that all the Obama Administration would have to do to put such great pressure on Israel is to stop mindlessly defending it in international forums. Israel's illegal behavior has alienated the state from a great number of countries in the world which is why any empowerment of international institutions is viewed as bad news by the Israeli government. But that is also why it is so clearly needed.

The Israeli electorate endorsed an apartheid system in the election this week, now comes the response. Elections have consequences.

Benjamin Netanyahu Promises No Palestinian State If Re-Elected, Is Accused Of Racism and Incitement For 'Arab Voter' Campaign

As Israel votes today for their next government Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is making a last ditch play for the far right vote saying unequivocally there will be no Palestinian state if he is re-elected. In an interview with a media outlet owned by billionaire Sheldon Adelson, Prime Minister Netanyahu said "I think that anyone who moves to establish a Palestinian state and evacuate territory gives territory away to radical Islamist attacks against Israel."

This declaration, if sincere, means Netanyahu has completely written off peace with the Palestinians and is now adopting Israel's ascendant far right's view that Palestinians should be slowly pushed out of Israel completely via settlements with those that remain being subjected to an apartheid system.

Netanyahu's statement on a Palestinian state are not his only pre-election remarks to cause controversy. Netanyahu has been brazenly trumpeting the threat of Israeli Arab voters having a high turnout which caused a member of the Knesset, Dov Khenin, to petition the Central Election Committee to discipline the Likud campaign under rules that forbid racism and incitement. Khenin states:

"A prime minister who campaigns against voting by citizens belonging to an ethnic minority is crossing a red line of incitement and racism. This is especially severe on Election Day, when the message to Israeli citizens is to participate in the elections, vote, and take part in the democratic system. A statement like that, issued by the prime minister, shows that he has completely lost his way and that he is ready to break all the principles of democracy to safeguard his regime."

There is no indication the petition will go anywhere, but Netanyahu's cynical tactic of trying to increase his base turnout by stoking ethnic anxiety stinks of desperation and could backfire with Israeli voters much as his stunt with the Republican Congress already has. The election year gimmicks did not stop with ditching the peace process and racism - Chuck Norris was enlisted to help Netanyahu win the election.

Ultimately, this election is up to the Israeli voters who we can all only hope make the right choice.