Category: Foreign Policy

Iran can gain politically by de-escalating

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Al Jazeera Analysis April 15, 2024: (Scroll down that page 2/3)
… Stephen Zunes, a professor of politics and international studies at the University of San Francisco, said the US is trying to “calm things” in the Middle East following Iran’s retaliatory attacks against Israel. While the US has “allowed Israel to engage in some pretty horrific war crimes against the Palestinians”, expanding to an international conflict of this magnitude, especially against a relatively powerful opponent like Iran is something the US will try and prevent, he said.
For the Israelis, however, there are more “hawkish elements” at play, he said. This includes Netanyahu looking to have the international community focus on Israel versus Iran, where he can garner more sympathy compared with Israel versus the Palestinians. The Iranian regime, at this point, can gain politically by not escalating, Zunes added. Israel’s actions in the war on Gaza, with US support, have alienated many non-Western nations and made them less likely to normalise relations with Israel, he said….

U.S. Has Redefined ‘Human Shields’ to Enable Israel’s Slaughter of Gaza Civilians

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Truthout March 22, 2024: The civilian death rate from the U.S.-backed Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip is the highest of any conflict since the 1994 Rwanda genocide [yet] Biden has vetoed multiple UN Security Council resolutions, rejected calls by progressives to condition military aid, and used emergency powers to bypass public and congressional oversight to send additional bombs and missiles… [source]

Russia and US Abuse UN Veto Power

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Inter Press Service February 27, 2024: How both Russia and the United States abuse their veto power at the United Nations
(Dr. Stephen Zunes is quoted midway).
Russia vs Ukraine and Israel vs Hamas—have exposed once again the stark reality that the UN, created 79 years ago to maintain international peace and security, has failed in its political mission – while its credibility is at stake. Russia is accused of violating the UN charter by invading a sovereign nation state and causing hundreds and thousands of deaths over two years — with no signs of a peaceful settlement.
Accusations against Israel include war crimes, genocide, ethnic cleansing and disproportionate killings of over 30,000 civilians, mostly women and children in Gaza, in retaliation for 1,200 killings by Hamas last October. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who has taken a rightful stand on the two conflicts, has been criticized by both countries, with Israel calling for his resignation while ignoring his request for a meeting or a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. [source]