Just heard a panel discussion yesterday sponsored by LifelineforPalestine.com. The organization is preparing for the September 18 deadline set by the U.N. General Assembly and the International Criminal Court for Israel to end specific actions that constitute genocide. The General Assembly, under a provision called “Uniting for Peace” can bypass a veto by the Security Council with a two-thirds majority vote to hold Israel accountable for genocide. The remedies include: Comprehensive sanctions and a military embargo; a U.N. protection force to deliver humanitarian aid, protect civilians, preserve evidence of war crimes and facilitate reconstruction; Kicking Israel out of the U.N.; Reactivation of the U.N.’s anti-apartheid provisions; and Establishing a war crimes tribunal.
There is a toolkit for action in advance of the September 18 vote on the website. More than two-thirds of the General Assembly has previously voted to hold Israel accountable, but was deterred by the U.S. veto. So, again, the Uniting for Peace provision is a way to override the Security Council’s veto. Wherever you live, please visit the website for ways to pressure our governments in advance of the vote
The participants in the webinar included a former U.N. official, a former U.S. presidential candidate (Green Party), representatives of “Doctors against Genocide,” musician Roger Waters, and journalists. There are a couple of educational webinars scheduled before the vote.
Whatever happens on September 18 should be big news.
Good question, and I’m not qualified to answer it. What I got from the panel discussion was that the predicate for the Uniting for Peace provision is a vote by the General Assembly to enforce international law with respect to Israel, a veto in the Security Council and then an override. Apparently the first two things happened in the past, but the third, the override, did not. Craig Mokhiber, the former, high level U.N. official who was part of the panel resigned from the U.N. in protest in 2023 with an open letter as to why. (The letter is available online). Mokhiber predicted the genocide in his resignation. You can post questions on the lifelineforpalestine.com site. I think the people behind the Uniting for Peace effort are dedicated. One of them helped organize and spoke at the huge protest march in Washington in January of 2024. Obviously, these and other actions should have been taken at the beginning of the genocide, but the obstacles, e.g., the U.S. government, have been huge. I’m glad this group, among others, is still trying and I hope you can get your question answered on their site. We can also look for ways to help.
Just heard a panel discussion yesterday sponsored by LifelineforPalestine.com. The organization is preparing for the September 18 deadline set by the U.N. General Assembly and the International Criminal Court for Israel to end specific actions that constitute genocide. The General Assembly, under a provision called “Uniting for Peace” can bypass a veto by the Security Council with a two-thirds majority vote to hold Israel accountable for genocide. The remedies include: Comprehensive sanctions and a military embargo; a U.N. protection force to deliver humanitarian aid, protect civilians, preserve evidence of war crimes and facilitate reconstruction; Kicking Israel out of the U.N.; Reactivation of the U.N.’s anti-apartheid provisions; and Establishing a war crimes tribunal.
There is a toolkit for action in advance of the September 18 vote on the website. More than two-thirds of the General Assembly has previously voted to hold Israel accountable, but was deterred by the U.S. veto. So, again, the Uniting for Peace provision is a way to override the Security Council’s veto. Wherever you live, please visit the website for ways to pressure our governments in advance of the vote
The participants in the webinar included a former U.N. official, a former U.S. presidential candidate (Green Party), representatives of “Doctors against Genocide,” musician Roger Waters, and journalists. There are a couple of educational webinars scheduled before the vote.
Whatever happens on September 18 should be big news.
If this is possible, why didn't they do it two years ago?
Good question, and I’m not qualified to answer it. What I got from the panel discussion was that the predicate for the Uniting for Peace provision is a vote by the General Assembly to enforce international law with respect to Israel, a veto in the Security Council and then an override. Apparently the first two things happened in the past, but the third, the override, did not. Craig Mokhiber, the former, high level U.N. official who was part of the panel resigned from the U.N. in protest in 2023 with an open letter as to why. (The letter is available online). Mokhiber predicted the genocide in his resignation. You can post questions on the lifelineforpalestine.com site. I think the people behind the Uniting for Peace effort are dedicated. One of them helped organize and spoke at the huge protest march in Washington in January of 2024. Obviously, these and other actions should have been taken at the beginning of the genocide, but the obstacles, e.g., the U.S. government, have been huge. I’m glad this group, among others, is still trying and I hope you can get your question answered on their site. We can also look for ways to help.
Thank you, Nancy.
Exactly. People have been screaming for them to do something since the start of this present genocide.