Toronto Star | 26Feb2011 | Orest Slepokura
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/letters/article/944454--the-arab-awakening
The Arab awakening
Last week, scores of nations co-sponsored a UN resolution calling
Jewish settlements in Israel’s occupied territory illegal, with 14 of
15 UN Security Council member nations voting in agreement. The lone
holdout, far out of sync with the vast international consensus, was the
United States, which has again saved Israel from absolute diplomatic
isolation. But at what price to U.S. standing in the region?
Coming as it does in the midst of all the political ferment roiling the
Arab world, for the masses marching in the streets of Arab capitals the
American veto -- one in a long series -- will translate as yet another
insult added to the injury inflicted on the Palestinians. It will serve
as a jarring reminder the U.S. is no honest broker, which is almost
certain to have adverse consequences for American foreign policy across
the Middle East.
Orest Slepokura, Strathmore, Alta.