When it is our friends unilateral action. Richard Silverstein, over on
Tikun Olam points out the hypocrisy of the US and EU stance.
Note the irony in the juxtaposition of these two news stories:
European Union representatives have told the Palestinians that any unilateral move on their part will put European aid to the Palestinian Authority at risk, according to senior UN officials in New York. –Haaretz
Israel announced plans Tuesday for 1,100 new housing units in an area of East Jerusalem outside Israel’s pre-1967 boundaries. The move reflects Israel’s continued rejection of Palestinian demands for a halt in settlement construction as a condition for peace talks. –San Francisco Chronicle
New housing in Gilo: NOT a 'unilateral' act.So, a Palestinian campaign for statehood is unilateral and will result in the Palestinians losing their largest foreign benefactors and driving hundreds of thousands into even greater privation than they now face. But 1,100 new Israeli housing units on occupied Palestinian land is not, and will not result in the suspension of $3 billion in U.S. aid. Makes perfect sense to me.
Withholding aid to the Palestinian Authority might actually be the best way to bring about a Palestinian state. When the PA can no longer pay the wages of the Palestinian police and civil servants, the Israelis will have to take responsibility for their occupation instead of sub-contracting it. Somehow I don't think the Israelis will be enthusiastic to do so. The choice is either annexation (one state) or withdrawal (two states).
