DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION
(PSCI 3720)
Prepared by:
NUR LAILATUL ZUHRO
1621342
TITLE OF ASSIGNMENT:
VETO POWER OF THE UNITED STATES IN THE CASE OF ISRAEL AGGRESION IN GAZA
Supervised by :
- ISHTIAQ HOSSAIN
International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM)
Gombak- Kuala Lumpur
INTRODUCTION
The United States is one of the Founding Fathers of the United Nations. It is well known that America often uses its veto rights as a safeguard either for the American state or for the alliance of countries whose country interests are still related to the United States. One of the cases that have always been the hottest topic discussed in the UN Security Council is the conflict between Israel and Palestine.
The conflict that began since Israel stood up and separated from Palestine as if it never stopped. Many draft resolutions are related to the resolution of these conflicts but always end in draft form only. This situation is inseparable from the interference of the United States. The United States often uses its veto rights in this conflict, considering that Israel is an alliance of the United States. Therefore, this paper will discuss the use of veto power by the United States in the case of Israel aggression in Gaza.
VETO POWER BY AMERIKA SERIKAT
In the UN Security Council, the United States is the second country after Russia which most often uses its veto rights, since the United Nations was founded in 1945. Americans often use their veto power against Israeli aggression in Palestine. This veto was done in the interests of American politics towards Israel.
Therefore, every draft resolution proposed by a member of the UN Security Council regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, especially in the Gaza strip, only ends up being an ordinary sheet of paper that cannot be carried out by the Security Council because of the veto by the United States.
Then it shows that the United States is not cooperating with the other fourteen councils to resolve the Israeli conflict in Gaza, Palestine. The veto conducted by the United States did not make the humanitarian conflict in Gaza over. Instead, it made it even worse and had a significant impact both for Gaza and the Security Council itself.
America’s impartiality of the security council in handling the Israeli aggression in Gaza can be proven through a proposal released by Trump on January 28, 2020, when he received a visit from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House (CNN, 10/2/2020).
In the proposal, Trump declared Jerusalem the capital of Israel and the Palestinians would be given the right to manage East Jerusalem as its capital if it were to become a state. This policy is considered unfair for Palestinian states that must be willing to release their territory to Israel. The strength of the United States makes the draft resolution rejecting Trump’s peaceful proposals initiated by Indonesia and Tunisia automatically lack international support. Veto power launched by America succeeded in delivering Israel close to their goals.
THE IMPACTS OF VETO POWER IN POLITICS.
Politics is an attempt to determine acceptable regulations for most citizens to bring people towards a harmonious shared life (Budiharjo, 2010). The foreign policy interests of the United States and Israel were saved using the veto that the United States owned. But the thing is this does not apply to Palestine and the Gaza strip. One result of politics that arises from a veto’s existence is the issue of Palestinian membership as a member of the United Nations.
Palestine was hoping to become a member of the United Nations also never ends. The General Assembly, which convenes to discuss Palestinian membership, from observer to UN members, must ultimately end in American and French veto. Keep in mind that the membership status of a country is indeed the General Assembly’s authority to determine, but it must be based recommendation from the Security Council. In this case, the veto can be used, considering that membership is not a procedural problem.
Another result is the independence of the Palestinian people, which is difficult to obtain due to the continued veto by the United States against Israeli occupation in the Palestinian territories, including the Gaza Strip. To implement the politics of his country well properly, Palestine should have general policies concerning the allocation of natural resources, power, and authority. But because Israel is still “colonizing” Palestine in such a way with the support of the United States, domestic and external politics, Palestinian land will not run well.
CONCLUSION
Permanent members of the United Nations Security Council are justified to use their veto power in certain circumstances. However, some members abuse their authority for their private interests. Thus, the Security Council’s performance as a guardian of world peace and security is questionable and ineffective.
America uses its veto power to reach foreign policy interests between the United States and Israel. America’s efforts to defend Israel have led to the long and dark history of the Palestinian people that never ends.
REFERENCES
- com ( 11 February,2020). Resolusi DK PBB Usulan RI soal Palestina Terancam Veto AS. https://www.cnnindonesia.com/internasional/20200211111015-134-473517/resolusi-dk-pbb-usulan-ri-soal-palestina-terancam-veto-as
- Miriam Budiharjo, Dasar-Dasar Ilmu Politik, PT. Gramedia Pustaka Utama, Jakarta, 2010, hlm. 35