Middle EastIsrael’s isolation grows

Published 3 December 2012

Last Thursday UN General Assembly vote to upgrade the status of the Palestinian Authority to that of a non-state observer highlighted the growing isolation in which Israel finds itself as a result of its policies toward the Palestinians; Israel’s isolation is only going to grow: in response to Israel’s decision to make preparations to build 3,000 housing units in a sensitive area east of Jerusalem,  France and the United Kingdom are now considering recalling their ambassadors from Tel Aviv for consultations

Israel is more isolated than this map suggests // Source: taringa.net

Last Thursday UN General Assembly vote to upgrade the status of the Palestinian Authority to that of a non-state observer highlighted the growing isolation in which Israel finds itself as a result of its policies toward the Palestinians.

The vote was a serious blow to Israel not only because of how lopsided it was — 138 to 9, with 41 abstentions.

The argument that over the last four decades the UN has been obsessed with criticizing Israel is true, as is the argument that if the Palestinians were to bring to a vote the notion that the Earth is flat, they would win, too.

This vote was different, however. Voting for the Palestinians this time were not only the usual suspects, but many friends of Israel, including Spain, Italy, and France, among others. Even Germany, which, for historical reasons, is usually careful when it comes to Israeli issues, abstained rather than vote against the resolution. Holland, a staunch friend of Israel, abstained as well.

Israel’s isolation is only going to grow. In response to the UN vote, the Israeli government said on Friday that it would begin the preparatory work for building 3,000 housing units in an area in the West Bank called E1. For many years this area, which lies between Jerusalem and the large Jewish settlement of Ma’ale Edumim to the east, has been a red line for the United States. On several occasions in the past, when Israel appear to consider building in E1, the United States applied brutal pressure on Israel to prevent such plans from being carried on.

There are two reasons for American and European objections to building in E1. First, by connecting Jerusalem to Ma’ale Edumi, the West Bank will be practically cut into two halves separated by a string of Jewish settlements running from west to east, making the establishment of a viable Palestinian state even less likely. Second, the Palestinians see East Jerusalem as their capital. Building in E1 would make East Jerusalem unreachable from Beth Lehem or Ramallah, thus making the likelihood of East Jerusalem becoming the Palestinian capital less likely, too.

The United States and European states objected to E1 build up because more than building in other parts of the West Bank, building in E1 would be detrimental to a two state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The anger with the Netanyahu government in Western capitals is palpable. Israel received an unwavering support from Western governments