Palestinian cause is worth the wait

Once again, the US has shown its spineless and blind support for Israel by voting against a resolution calling on Israel to end its illegal occupation of Palestine within three years. The resolution did win the support of eight of the 15 members of the United Nations Security Council. While five members abstained from voting on the resolution, the US was joined by Australia, shamefully, in voting against it. As a result of the two votes cast against the resolution, it failed to win the majority nine votes needed and it could not be passed.

According to the US Ambassador to the UN, Washington voted against the resolution because it “is comfortable with the status quo”. Really?

In essence, the US is happy with a situation whereby thousands of Palestinians are detained for years on end without trial or due process taking place in courts. Washington sees nothing wrong in an effective shoot-to-kill policy adopted by Israeli forces who open fire on Palestinians who dare protest the illegal and unjust occupation.

The US State Department has no issue with the demolition of homes of those who say they have had enough of being treated as illegal residents in their own homes, who are fed up with Israel’s bigotry and racist policies or who are pained when olive trees are cut down by Israeli municipal authorities.

And perhaps, worst of all, the US has no moral objection to Israeli developers taking over acres of land in occupied East Jerusalem so that colonists can live their suburban dream on territory that has been stolen from Palestinians.

For the Palestinian leadership, the defeat at the UN Security council just means that they must now regroup and again move forward, knowing that support among right-thinking nations is growing.

The Palestinian cause is just. It is a struggle that will endure. There is no easy solution and no short cut. But the cause is true and justice will endure — though it may not happen as soon as all would wish.