US Vetoes Cast Against UN Security Council Resolutions on Palestine
December 01, 2002
By MIFTAH
Since the inception of the United Nations (UN), the Palestine
question has been one of the most persistent topics on the UN agenda.
Between 1948 and today, the UN Security Council has adopted 58
resolutions that deal with the issue of Palestine, including the
situation in the Occupied Territories (OPT) and Jerusalem, and attacks
against Palestinian targets. This number does not include Israeli
attacks on Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, or Egypt, nor does it include
unspecified resolutions regarding the situation in the Middle East.
While the UN Security Council has shown great interest in the
maintenance of peace and security in Palestine and the Middle East,
little of its work has had any major effect on the situation in the
area. The implementation of the Security Council resolutions have
proved to be very difficult, as Israel, one of the main parties of the
conflict, customarily ignores the resolutions, and continues breaching
international regulations and laws, such as the 1949 Forth Geneva
Convention, the UN charter, and UN Security Council resolutions. For
instance, resolution 242 of 1967 and 338 of 1973 are two key
resolutions that Israel has refused to comply with, despite the fact
that these two resolutions make the foundation upon which the Oslo
Accords are based. In Resolution 242 (1967), the Security Council
underlines that all Member States are committed to act in accordance
with Article 2 of the UN charter, which affirms that
All Members shall settle their international disputes
by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and
justice, are not endangered.
All Members shall refrain in their international relations
from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political
independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes
of the United Nations.
The resolution furthermore calls for Israeli withdrawal from the
territories occupied in the 1967 war, and emphasizes the need for "a
just settlement of the refugee problem". A number of resolutions with
similar wording have since then followed, and have likewise been
ignored by the Israeli authorities.
Israel's blatant ignorance of the Security Council resolutions
is likely much due to the unconditional support the country has been
given by the US. As a permanent member of the Security Council, the US
has the privilege of the veto power. By means of its veto power, the US
has managed to protect Israel from numerous resolutions condemning
Israeli actions, policies, and its refusal to comply with UN
resolutions and international law. 21 of the vetoed drafts are directly
concerned with the issue of Palestine or attacks on Palestinian
targets, and include sharp criticism against Israeli human rights
violations, calls for the cessation of collective punishment, home
demolitions and deportations, and denouncement of Israeli
establishments of illegal settlements (for more information, see
below). The US use of the veto has furthermore prevented the
establishment of an UN observer force, on-site monitoring of the
situation, and enforcement of earlier resolutions. In addition to the
drafts that have been vetoed, the threat of the US veto has shield
Israel from criticism by forcing the members of the Security Council to
settle with a statement instead of a resolution.
List of US vetoes cast against UN Security Council Resolutions on Palestine
1. 24 Jul. 1973. S/10974
Vote: 13 in favor, 1 veto (US), 1 abstention.
The resolution strongly deplored Israel's occupation of the Arab
territories since 1967, and expressed serious concern with the Israeli
authorities' lack of cooperation with the UN Special Representative of
the Secretary General.
2. 23 Jan. 1976. S/11940
Vote: 9 in favor, 1 veto (US), 3 abstentions.
The resolution called for Israeli withdrawal from the occupied Arab
territories since 1967, and deplored Israel's refusal to implement
relevant UN resolutions. It furthermore reaffirmed the Palestinian
people's right to self determination and the right of return for
Palestinian refugees.
3. 24 Mar. 1976. S/12022
Vote: 14 in favor, 1 veto (US).
In the draft, the Security Council expressed deep concern over
Israeli measures to change the character of the occupied territories,
in particular Jerusalem, the establishment of Israeli settlements, and
human rights violations, and called for an end of such measures.
4. 29 Jun. 1976. S/12119
Vote: 10 in favor, 1 veto (US), 4 abstentions.
The resolution affirmed the Palestinian people's right to self
determination, the right of return, and the right to national
independence.
5. 30 Apr. 1980. S/13911
Vote: 10 in favor, 1 veto (US), 4 abstentions.
The resolution affirmed the Palestinian right to establish an
independent state, the right of return or compensation for loss of
property for refugees not wishing to return, and Israeli withdrawal
from the occupied Arab territories since 1967.
6. 1 Apr. 1982. S/14943
Vote: 13 in favor, 1 veto (US), 1 abstention.
In the draft, the Security Council denounced Israeli interference
with local governance in the West Bank, and its violations of the
rights and liberties of the population in the West Bank and the Gaza
Strip. The resolution furthermore called on Israel to end all
activities in breach of the Forth Geneva Convention.
7. 20 Apr. 1982. S/14985
Vote: 14 in favor, 1 veto (US).
The draft strongly condemned the shooting of worshipers at Haram
Al-Sharif on 11 April, 1982, and called on Israel to observe and apply
the provisions of the Forth Geneva Convention, and other international
laws.
8. 8 Jun. 1982 S/15185
Vote: 14 in favor, 1 veto (US).
The resolution draft condemned the Israeli non-compliance with
resolutions 508 and 509, urged the parties to comply with the Hague
Convention of 1907, and restated the Security Council's demands of
Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon.
9. 25 Jun. 1982 S/15255/Rev. 2
Vote: 14 in favor, 1 veto (US).
The resolution demanded the immediate withdrawal of Israeli and
Palestinian forces from areas in and around Beirut, and that the
parties would comply with resolution 508. It furthermore requested that
the Secretary General would station UN military observers to supervise
the ceasefire and disengagement in and around Beirut, and that the
Secretary General would make proposals for the installation of a UN
force to take up positions beside the Lebanese interposition force.
10. 6 Aug. 1982 S/15347/Rev. 1
Vote: 11 in favor, 1 veto, 3 abstentions.
The resolution strongly condemned Israel for not implementing
resolutions 516 and 517, called for their immediate implementation, and
decided that all UN member-states would refrain from providing Israel
with weapons or other military aid until Israeli withdrawal from
Lebanese territory.
11. 1 Aug. 1983. S/15895
Vote: 13 in favor, 1 veto (US), 1 abstention.
The resolution called upon Israel to discontinue the establishment
of new settlements in the Arab territories occupied since 1967, to
dismantle existing settlements, and to adhere to the Geneva Convention
relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War. The
resolution furthermore rejected Israeli deportations and transfers of
Palestinian civilians, and condemned attacks against the Arab civilian
population. The Security Council also called upon other states to
refrain from giving Israel any assistance related to the settlements,
and stated its intention to examine ways of securing the implementation
of the resolution, in the event of Israeli non-compliance.
12. 12 Sep. 1985. S/17459
Vote: 10 in favor, 1 veto (US), 4 abstentions.
The resolution draft deplored the repressive measures applied by
the Israeli authorities against the Palestinian population in the
occupied territories, and called upon Israel to immediately cease the
use of repressive measures, including the use of curfews, deportations,
and detentions.
13. 29 Jan. 1986. S/17769
Vote: 13 in favor, 1 veto (US), 1 abstention.
The resolution strongly deplored Israeli refusal to abide earlier
Security Council resolutions, and called upon Israel to comply with
these resolutions, as well as, the norms of international law governing
military occupation such as the Forth Geneva Convention. The Security
Council also expressed deep concern with violations of the sanctity of
the Haram Al-Sharif, and with Israeli measures aimed at altering the
character of the occupied territories, including Jerusalem.
14. 29 Jan. 1988. S/19466
Vote: 14 in favor, 1 veto (US).
The resolution called upon Israel to accept the de jure
applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of
Civilian Persons in Times of War to the territories occupied since
1967, and to conform to the Convention. The resolution moreover called
upon Israel to refrain from practices violating the human rights of the
Palestinian people.
15. 14 Apr. 1988. S/19780
Vote: 14 in favor, 1 veto (US).
The resolution expressed grave concerned with the Israeli use of
collective punishment, including house demolitions. It condemned the
policies and practices utilized by the Israeli authorities violating
the human rights of the Palestinian People, especially the killing and
wounding of defenseless Palestinian civilians by the Israeli army.
Called on Israel to abide to the Forth Geneva Convention, and urged it
to desist from deporting Palestinians.
16. 17 Feb. 1989. S/20463
Vote: 14 in favor, 1 veto (US).
The resolution strongly deplored Israeli persistence in violating
the human rights of the Palestinian people, in particular the shooting
of Palestinian civilians, including children. It also deplored Israel's
disregard of Security Council decisions, and called upon Israel to act
in accordance with the Forth Geneva Convention and relevant Security
Council resolutions.
17. 9 Jun. 1989. S/20677
Vote: 14 in favor, 1 veto (US).
The resolution deplored the violations of the human rights of the
Palestinian people, demanded that Israel would abstain from deporting
Palestinian civilians for the occupied territories, and that it would
ensure the safe return of those already deported. It also called upon
Israel to comply with the Forth Geneva Convention, and requested that
the Secretary General would give recommendations on measures
guaranteeing compliance with the Convention, and the protection of
Palestinian civilians in the occupied territories.
18. 6 Nov. 1989. S/20945/Rev. 1
Vote: 14 in favor, 1 veto (US).
The resolution deplored the Israeli violations of the human rights
of the Palestinian people, including the siege of towns, ransacking of
homes, and confiscation of property. It called upon Israel to abide to
the Forth Geneva Convention, to lift the siege, and to return
confiscated property to its owners. The resolution requested that the
Secretary General would conduct on-site monitoring of the situation in
the occupied territories.
19. 30 May 1990. S/21326
Vote: 14 in favor, 1 veto (US).
The draft resolution established a commission to examine the
situation related to Israeli policies and practices in the occupied
territories, including Jerusalem.
20. 17 May 1995. S/1995/394
Vote: 14 in favor, 1 veto (US).
The resolution confirmed that the Israeli expropriation of
Palestinian land in East Jerusalem was invalid, and called upon Israel
to refrain from such actions. It also expressed its support for the
Middle East peace process and urged the parties to adhere to the accord
agreed upon.
21. 7 Mar. 1997. S/1997/199
Vote: 14 in favor, 1 veto (US).
The resolution expressed deep concern with the Israeli plans to
build new settlements in East Jerusalem, and called upon Israel to
desist from measures, including the building of settlements, that would
pre-empt the final status negotiations. The resolution once again
called on Israel to abide to the provisions of the Geneva Convention.
22. 21 Mar. 1997. S/1997/241
Vote: 13 in favor, 1 veto (US), 1 abstention.
The resolution demanded an end to the Israeli construction of the
Jabal Abu Ghneim settlement in East Jerusalem, and to all other
measures related to settlements in the occupied territories.
23. 26 Mar. 2001. S/2001/270
Vote: 9 in favor, 1 veto (US), 4 abstentions.
The resolution called for a total and immediate stop of all acts of
violence, provocation, and collective punishment, as well as a complete
cessation of Israeli settlement activities, and an end of the closures
of the occupied territories. The resolution furthermore called for the
implementation of the Sharm El-Sheikh agreement, and expressed the
Security Council's willingness to set up mechanisms to protect the
Palestinian civilians, including the establishment of a UN observer
force.
24. 14 Dec. 2001. S/2001/1199
Vote: 12 in favor, 1 veto (US) 2 abstentions.
In the resolution, the Security Council condemned all acts of
terror, extrajudiciary executions, excessive use of force and
destruction of properties, and demanded an end of all acts of violence,
destruction and provocation. The resolution called on the parties to
resume negotiations, and to implement the recommendations of the
Mitchell Report. It also encouraged the establishment of a monitoring
apparatus for the above mentioned implementation.
Sources:
1. UN: The United Nations, "Security Council documents", www.un.org
2. The Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations, "Summary of Security Council Resolutions on Palestine since 1948", "Security Council Resolutions on Palestine Vetoed by the U.S.", www.palestine-un.org
3. Middle East Information Center, "US Vetos on the UN Security Council related to the Middle East", www.middleeastinfo.org
4. Donald Neff, "The U.S. Cast the First of 29 Security Council Vetoes to Shield Israel", Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, www.washington-report.org
5. Donald Neff, "Lessons to be Learned From the 66 U.N. Resolutions Israel Ignores", Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, www.washington-report.org
