Australia Embraces Anti-Israel Diplomacy In Anticipation Of Obama Administration
Australia has switched its position to vote against Israel on two resolutions at the United Nations, ending the Howard government's unswerving alignment with the United States and raising concern from the Jewish community. The move also signals to the incoming Obama administration that the Rudd Government plans to take a different approach to the Howard government on the international stage. In the weekend vote in New York, Australia supported a resolution calling on Israel to stop establishing settlements in the Palestinian territories and a resolution calling for the Geneva Conventions to apply in the Palestinian territories. The resolutions on the Middle East peace process are held annually and the Howard government had backed both from 1996 to 2002 but in 2003 began to vote against or abstain.... Australian officials told the UN the Government had changed its position because it supported a two-state resolution... and that Australia believed both sides should abide by their obligations under the Road Map for Peace.
Well if I was looking to create a two-state solution, what I would definitely do is bring pressure to bear on Israel. Because that's the side that's initiating the violence.
It's probably unfair to blame Australia's shift entirely on the US election. The Rudd government is more liberal in general, so this move might make sense in isolation. Except that previous Aussie governments have switched their votes to align with the US President: a McCain victory would have made it costless for them to stick to the status quo but costly to flip. Change!
References:
* UN vote: Rudd breaks with Howard on Israel [SMH]
* Hamas Launching Dozens Of Rockets From Palestinian Neighborhoods, Attacking Israeli Troops (Plus: US Announces $14 Million In New Aid) [MR]
Previously:
* Sarkozy: Of Course Obama's Iran Policy Is Imbecilic
* Genocidal Lunatics And Vicious Terrorists Helpfully Illustrate Negative Connotations Of "Change" For American Electorate
* Hamas: Oh All Right, We'll Let Obama Try To Appease Us [MR]
