America votes against Palestinians' right to self-determination in the UNHRC

Israel’s public humiliation of both the President and the Vice President of America on two separate occasions over the last few weeks has apparently not hindered America’s desire to pander to the Israeli agenda. In a vote of 45:1, with America being the one, America voted against a resolution supporting the Palestinians’ right to self-determination in the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) last Wednesday (24th March.)

This is a deeply disappointing move, not only because it shows that the recent “crisis” in relations between America and Israel will have no real impact on the situation in Palestine in any real terms but also because it confirms the subordinate role that the US is undoubtedly starting to play in the US-Israel relationship. Voting in Palestine’s favour would have been more symbolic than anything else. The right to self-determination is a fundamental right enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as well as many other international treaties and  a right that America claims to support, and yet they could not even bring themselves to grant this symbolic concession to the Palestinian people.

Furthermore, while US ambassador Eileen Donahoe reiterated the American commitment to finding a two state solution, this assertion is called into serious doubt considering America’s vote. What kind of state will Palestine have if it can not have a self-determined state? The only kind is one of subservience and servitude to Israel and that is no kind of state to live in at all.