Sigh. We had the State Department in the "who will condemn the 'disproportionate Israeli response' first". We never win these things:

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the Security Council on Saturday he condemned what he described as Israel's "excessive and disproportionate" use of force in the Gaza Strip. Speaking at an emergency session of the council on the escalation of violence in Gaza, called by Security Council member Libya on behalf of the Arab League and at the request of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Ban also condemned Palestinian rocket attacks against southern Israel. "While recognizing Israel's right to defend itself, I condemn the disproportionate and excessive use of force that has killed an injured so many civilians, including children," Ban told the emergency session of the council. "I call on Israel to cease such attacks," he said. Ban said there had been 26 Palestinian rocket attacks against Israel on Saturday alone. "I condemn Palestinian rocket attacks and call for the immediate cessation of such acts of terrorism," he said.

It's nice that he noticed the Palestinian rocket attacks. Because up until now it's been quite literally impossible to get the UNSC to hint that there might be something wrong about the nearly 5,000 rockets raining down on Israeli schools and hospitals over the last two years (more the opposite). Wonder what changed on the ground to get their attention. We don't really think that it's the flood of Palestinian death porn that the Arab media has been broadcasting (next up: the New York Times? ). Could it be that rarest of all things - a Israeli Defense Minister fed up with genocidal lunatics targeting a city of 100,000 civilians with WWII-style indiscriminate bombing?

Thankfully, some things never change: last month the Libya blocked the UN from diplomatically pressuring Hamas and this month they're pushing a resolution condemning Israel for pursuing the only option the IDF has left. The great thing about Libya is that they'll use their UNSC seat to defend anyone attacking Israel. Hamas, Hezbollah, anybody - they'll defend all of them. Which is why the UN is so awesome.

UPDATE: Hey neat: the EU has found it in their hearts to condemn the Palestinian bombing of Israeli cities. And wouldn't you know it, their condemnation comes in the form of a much broader condemnation of the Israeli counterattack. Hey, you don't think that's the reason do you?

References:
* Rice: We Really Need To Focus On How The Innocent People In Gaza Are Being Victimized By The Government They Elected [MR]
* UN chief: Israel's use of violence in Gaza is 'disproportionate' [Ha'aretz]
* Libya withholds support for UN draft condemning Qassam fire [Ha'aretz]
* US vetoes 'biased' UN resolution attacking Israel's Gaza bloodbath [The Independent]
* On Arab TV, the images from Gaza are of dead women and children [Ha'aretz]
* Beit Hanoun Meme Watch - (2) "The Palestinians Are Really Pissed Off" - And The NYT Will Publish Death Porn To Prove It [MR]
* UN Condemns Israeli-Palestinian Violence [AP]
* Libya thwarts Security Council censure of Shlomi missile strike [Ha'aretz]

Previously:
* Orthodox Los Angeles Rabbi: Israel Must Help Palestinians Screw Israel In Negotiations Because It's The Right Thing To Do (Plus: The Anti-Semitic Fantasy Of Jewish Purity That Guarantees Unending War)
* UNIFIL Spy Ship Disrupts Electronic Signals Across Israel (Plus: Syria Confirms It Was A Nuke Facility)
* * Libya thwarts Security Council censure of Shlomi missile strike [Ha'aretz]