UN-Truth

When the U.S. does something, it tries to go all the way. Now, we learn, the U.S. is asking the UN Security council to endorse the Annapolis “Joint Understanding” — agreed between Israeli and apparently more recalcitrant Palestinian negotiators just eight minutes before the opening of the conference this week.

The U.S. is probably the second-biggest vetoer of UN SC resolutions — particularly those concerning the Israeli-Arab and Israeli-Palestinian conflicts — after the former Soviet Union.

But, it seems the U.S. likes to go for endorsing the good news, if that is what Annapolis may bring.

The AP reported overnight that “The United States asked the Security Council to support a United Nations resolution endorsing this week’s agreement by Israeli and Palestinian leaders to try to reach a Mideast peace settlement by the end of 2008. U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad told reporters after closed-door discussions Thursday on the draft resolution that there was enormous support for the decisions taken by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the U.S.-sponsored Mideast peace conference held in Annapolis, Maryland Tuesday … Khalilzad said he would consult with the Israelis and Palestinians overnight on the text of the resolution to ensure that it’s what they want. Council members said they needed to consult with their capitals on the text. Indonesia’s UN Ambassador Marty Natalegawa, the current council president, said hopefully the resolution will be adopted on Friday, after the council gets its monthly Mideast briefing. ‘From the presidency perspective, we see there is a good potential for a common, positive response to Annapolis which we wish to nurture and capture as early as possible so that positive momentum is maintained’, he said … Qatar’s UN Ambassador Nassir Al-Nasser, the only Arab member of the Security Council, told reporters ‘we are happy with the language as it is in the U.S. draft resolution … I am happy that the council is dealing with this issue’, he said. ‘For me, this is the main thing’.”

So, what will the UN SC be asked to endorse? (1) That the Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations should conclude by late 2008; and (2) the last two phrases of the Joint Declaration — read out by President George Bush — and evidently endorsed by both parties: “The United States will monitor and judge the fulfillment of the commitment of both sides of the road map. Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, implementation of the future peace treaty will be subject to the implementation of the road map, as judged by the United States.”

Dozens of serious analysts have said the Road Map is dead. That aside, will the U.S. role as arbiter be helpful? So far, they have come down on the side of the Israeli negotiators in nearly every dispute to date. On top of that, what will happen if there is disagreement, or obstinancy? What, exactly, will happen then?

The day after Annapolis, it was announced that General Jim Jones, a former commander of both NATO and the American forces in Europe, will serve in this role as the arbiter. The Israeli press is reporting that Jones is due to arrive in the region in the coming days.

The AP story carries details of the elements contained in the proposed draft resolution. It “affirms the Security Council’s vision of a region where two states, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and recognized borders. It welcomes the diplomatic efforts at the Annapolis conference to realize this vision as a concrete step towards a comprehensive Middle East peace. The draft resolution endorses the program of action for negotiations and implementation of outstanding obligations pursuant to the roadmap agreed upon by the Israeli and Palestinian leadership at Annapolis, Maryland on Nov. 27, 2007 … It welcomes continuing efforts by the Quartet of Middle East peace negotiators - the U.S., the UN, the European Union and Russia - to achieve a permanent two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East. The U.S. draft calls on all states to provide diplomatic and political support to Israeli-Palestinian efforts to implement the new roadmap peace plan, including by encouraging and recognizing progress and preventing any support for acts of violence or terrorism intended to disrupt their efforts. Diplomats said one council member questioned the phrase referring to terrorism during the closed-door discussion [ -- I'll bet it was either China or South Africa -- any takers?] The draft also calls on all countries and international organizations to help develop the Palestinian economy, to maximize resources available to the Palestinian Authority and to help build Palestinian institutions in preparation for statehood”… The AP report, published in Haaretz, on U.S. moves to get the UN SC approve a resolution endorsing the Annapolis Joint understanding is posted here.

Filed under: Israel, Middle East Peace Process, Palestine & Palestinians, Quartet, UN Security Council, US in UN