Washington real obstacle to cease-fire: China Daily editorial

Why have the multiple attempts of the international community to bring an end to the Israel-Palestine conflict under the framework of the United Nations failed to materialize into action?

The answer is clear. It is the United States that has been obstructing the peace process by abusing its veto power in the UN Security Council, turning it into another arena for Washington's geopolitical games.

For instance, a proposed resolution, focusing on the humanitarian situation and the protection of civilians, which was supported by an overwhelming majority of UN Security Council members, failed to be adopted on Wednesday due to the US vetoing it.

The US introduced a draft resolution on Saturday that set aside the consensus of the UN Security Council members and included many elements that were deeply divisive. Many UN Security Council members, including China, Russia and Brazil, proposed amendments to the draft text. However, the US, ignoring?the concerns of the council members, made only cosmetic changes to the draft before putting it to a hasty vote.?

As China's ambassador to the UN, Zhang Jun, said, the resolution was presented in haste and did not reflect the world's calls. The proposed resolution was patently not in a position to be adopted. Yet, rather than acknowledging that truth, the US is trying to smear China and other countries by claiming that in voting against the resolution they are thwarting UN actions and being indifferent to the humanitarian situation. That shameless calling black white shows the US' intention of dividing the world body and diverting attention from the conflict between Israel and Palestine to the one it is trying to fabricate between a so-called "democratic world" and China.

All genuine efforts that contribute to peace will receive China's staunch support. Any endeavor that facilitates Palestine-Israel reconciliation will be pursued by China with all-out?efforts. But with two aircraft carrier strike groups in the Middle East, it is clear that the US wants its ally to carry out its "self-defense" campaign carefree and for as long as it likes.

The position of China, and the many other countries voting against the US-proposed draft resolution, is based on facts, law and conscience. What they oppose is that the draft is evasive on the most urgent issue of ending the immediate hostilities. That is not only irresponsible but also dangerous. It is tantamount to paving the way for large-scale military actions and giving the green light to further escalation of the conflict.

The draft resolution did not call on the parties concerned to stop the indiscriminate and asymmetrical use of force. Such an evasive and ineffectual resolution would do nothing to ease the plight of the people in Gaza. Indeed, it would only worsen their predicament.

It is clear that the US is seeking to establish a new narrative on the Palestinian question by ignoring the fact that the Palestinian territory has?been occupied for a long time, and evading the fundamental issue of independent statehood for the Palestinian people.

It is worth being vigilant as the resolution presented by the US departs from the spirit of previous UN resolutions and embeds the dangerous logic of "clash of civilizations" and the justification of war and use of force. If adopted, it would have completely dashed the prospects of the two-state solution.