While the world protests, Washington stands by Israel. Indeed, in a speech on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that he “shamed” Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice to abstain from a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. It's an indication of the power of the Israeli prime minister in US politics. But he hardly needs to throw his weight. On Capitol Hill both the US Senate and House passed resolutions last week, "recognizing Israel’s Right to Defend Itself Against Attacks from Gaza, and Reaffirming the United States’ Strong Support for Israel."
The Senate voted unanimously and the House by a vote of 390 for and five against. Twenty-two representatives voted “present.” Republican Ron Paul, Democrat Dennis Kucinich, Democrat Maxine Waters, Democrat Gwen Moore and Democrat Nick Rahall voted against the resolution.
What does all this say about U.S. policy in the region? Today, Chris Hedges, former Georgia Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, and MJ Rosenberg, Director of Israel Policy Forum's Washington Policy Center discuss the U.S. role in Israel/Palestine.
Our panel on U.S. policy in Israel with Chris Hedges, Cynthia McKinney, and MJ Rosenberg will follow immediately.
By GRITtv on January 13th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Olmert pushing U.S. policy?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200…..el_us_rice
“I said: ‘Get me President Bush on the phone,’” Olmert said in a speech in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon.
“They said he was in the middle of giving a speech in Philadelphia. I said I didn’t care: ‘I need to talk to him now.’ He got off the podium and spoke to me.”
Olmert said he argued that the United States should not vote in favor, and the president then called Rice and told her not to do so.
“She was left pretty embarrassed,” Olmert said.
By GRITtv on January 13th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
Over 900 Palestinians have been killed. Half of them civilians.
By Anonymous on January 13th, 2009 at 1:27 pm