The U.S. Veto at the UN: Historically, Not Automatic

David A. Harris — February 22, 2011 – 1:36 pm | Barack Obama | Foreign Policy | GOP Hypocrisies | Israel | Stop the Smears Comments (0) Add a comment

By now you know about the crucial lone “no” vote cast by the United States before the United Nations Security Council on Friday that vetoed a resolution critical of Israel in the Israel-obsessed UN. We praised the move by President Barack Obama and his representative at the UN, Ambassador Susan Rice, as did the breadth of the Jewish community - and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as well.

But don’t be fooled by those who claimed this vote was easy, or automatic. It wasn’t.

As JTA’s Ron Kampeas points out, “withholding a veto of a resolution that Israel doesn’t care for ... happened as recently as 2009,” during the end of the administration of President George W. Bush. There are many such examples from the last four administrations - on both sides of the aisle. An informative PDF document listing U.S. votes on Israel-related resolutions coming before the UN Security Council can be found here.

UN history notwithstanding, time and again during his presidency, President Obama has stuck up for Israel at the United Nations. From being the only one to give Israel the benefit of the doubt during the Gaza Flotilla incident to standing by Israel at the United Nation regarding the miserably biased Goldstone Report, President Obama has been there, on Israel’s side.

Which makes it all the more disturbing that some elements in our community have chosen to even make this action - in which the President stood by Israel yet again - a political bludgeon to wield against the Administration. As The Jewish Week‘s James Besser writes, in the build-up of false rumors prior to this key UN vote, many sought “to use Israel as just another wedge issue in the U.S. partisan wars.”

It’s not ok. Israel is too important. Finally, at long last, it’s really time for those who keep using Israel as a partisan hammer to stop. You would think that those claiming this most recent episode at the UN somehow showcases President Obama’s lack of support for Israel to be shamed by the facts of what happened. But you would be wrong.

No, as we look to history, we’re reminded that vetoing an Israel-related resolution before the Security Council is not automatic. And it’s not easy, even in this case - for the reasons we outlined in our statement, and many more.

President Obama and his representative at the UN, Ambassador Rice, took the right step. And they deserve the thanks of all of us who support a strong U.S.-Israel relationship - not more of the politics as usual from those who keep using Israel as a partisan wedge issue.

David A. Harris is the President and CEO of the National Jewish Democratic Council

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