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B'nai B'rith: The roadmap doesn't run through The Hague
Washington, D.C. (December 8, 2003) - The United Nation's General Assembly yesterday, in a 90-74-8 vote, opted to send the question of Israel's security fence to the International Court of Justice. B'nai B'rith International (BBI) feels strongly that the settling of Israeli-Palestinian issues via international tribunal is unwise and sets a dangerous precedent in its attempt to politicize the court. Only the Israeli government and Palestinian leaders can bring peace to the region.
"The Palestinians must realize that the people to talk to are the Israelis," says BBI President Joel S. Kaplan. "There is a mechanism in place called the Road Map-and it runs across the negotiating table, not through The Hague."
"The large number of abstentions during yesterday's vote, cast even by countries that are usually narrow-minded when it comes to Israel's security predicament, shows that even many of them realize that going to The Hague is nothing more than a diplomatic diversion," says BBI Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin. "The Palestinians have been banging on doors all over the world in an effort to globalize the conflict when what they should be doing is sitting down with the government of Israel."
"The perfidy of the United Nations with regard to the State of Israel demonstrates an irresponsibility and a lack of moral capability," says Kaplan. "The time will soon come, if it has not already, when others besides Israel will have no respect for its opinions or resolutions."
"If the Palestinians would abide by their Road Map obligation to dismantle terrorist groups, Israel's security fence would not be necessary," says Mariaschin. "The moment the Palestinians truly reject violence, they will find an eager and accommodating partner in Israel."
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