Israel’s rejection of UN Security Council Resolution 1860 is an affront to the entire international community.
The resolution was painstakingly negotiated, including by the permanent members of the council, and took into account Israel’s concerns to the maximum. Yet, Tel Aviv rejected it.
Israel must not be allowed to get away with such defiance of the international organisation; it must be called to order by the Security Council by invoking Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, which authorises the UN to take forceful measures against a country that flouts international peace and security.
Indubitably, the US abstention encouraged the Jewish state to reject the call, on both Israel and Hamas, to observe an immediate ceasefire. Obviously Israel and the US are in agreement over the Gaza developments and have acted in concert regarding the offensive on Gaza to attain certain political and military objectives. No wonder Israeli forces are pushing deeper and deeper into Gaza despite all the efforts to stop the killing and destruction in the strip.
The Security Council can now act to preserve its integrity and image as the international instrument that promotes peace and security or lay low, cowed into silence by arrogant Israel.
Israel has a long history of defiance of international resolutions, notably those adopted by the Security Council. Had the international community acted against the Israeli rejection of international decisions from the very beginning, Israel would not have dared to challenge the UN system and act with impunity for as long as it has.
The least the UN should do now is impose sanctions on Israel, starting with economic and eventually applying more forceful measures, including a diplomatic boycott.
As long as Israel defies international decisions, it must be served with a clear notice that even its membership in the UN is at stake, as this is contingent on the respect of the UN Charter and compliance with US resolutions.
Israel is obviously not abiding by the UN Charter. Accordingly, its expulsion must be considered as one of the tools available by the UN to combat its lawlessness.
