IMPORTANT PETITION TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY:

[Ghost Dog]

Edited on Wed Aug-09-06 04:09 PM by mom cat. See related Oversea Visitor thread here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1859957

Call for UN General Assembly: Immediate Ceasefire in Lebanon

Dear Supporter of Peace and Diplomacy,

The most recent news at this writing is that the Israeli Security Cabinet has approved a "widening of the ground offensive" and that Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon would resume "in full force" after the expiration of the partial suspension that followed the massacre in Qana.

As you know, under international law the UN Security Council is supposed to act to stop crimes against peace, but cannot do so in this case because it is paralyzed by the veto of the Bush Administration, which opposes an immediate cease-fire and is backed in this position by the United Kingdom. However, under Resolution 377, "Uniting for Peace," the UN General Assembly can act when the Security Council fails to do so (see "A Road to Peace in Lebanon?" Jeremy Brecher and Brendan Smith, July 27, 2006, http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0727-27.htm .) This procedure has been used 10 times in the history of the UN, often at the initiative of the United States.

Please join us, therefore, in circulating the following petition, calling for the UN General Assembly to act to bring about an immediate cease-fire in Lebanon, Israel, and Gaza. Even a significant movement towards the convening of the General Assembly to consider an immediate, unconditional cease-fire will put significant pressure on the major powers to support an immediate cease-fire.


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To: United Nations General Assembly
Petition for an Emergency United Nations Resolution on Lebanon, Israel, and Gaza
To Bring About an Immediate Unconditional Cease-Fire in Lebanon, Israel, and Gaza

We, the undersigned,

Deploring the current bombing and invasion of Lebanon by foreign forces as an act of aggression in violation of the United Nations Charter and international law;

Concerned by the Security Council's failure to condemn the current bombing and invasion of Lebanon and to call for an immediate unconditional cease-fire to end the bombing of Lebanon, the rocket attacks on Israeli cities and towns, and the military attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure in Gaza;

Further concerned by actions of the United States and the United Kingdom to obstruct efforts to bring about an immediate cease-fire in Lebanon, Israel, and Gaza;

Troubled by the humanitarian crisis, violations of human rights, and destruction and recognizing the urgent need for international assistance to the Lebanese people and the Palestinian people in Gaza;

Since the Security Council, because of lack of unanimity of the permanent members, has failed to to halt the threat to peace, we call upon all Member States of the United Nations to immediately convene an Emergency Meeting of the General Assembly, under the provisions of General Assembly Resolution 377 (V), Uniting for Peace, to act to bring about an immediate unconditional cease-fire, and to enforce the obligations of states and armed groups to comply with international law; and furthermore,

To mandate immediate cooperation of all nations in the cessation of armed attacks by all parties; the immediate withdrawal of the occupying forces; the coordination, by the United Nations, of the response to the humanitarian disaster in Lebanon and Gaza, with particular attention to provision of medical care, food and restoration of water and electricity supplies; and furthermore,

To enforce the obligations of the invading forces under the provisions of the Hague Regulations, Geneva Conventions and other applicable international agreements; to prevent the further destruction of Lebanon and Gaza's infrastructure; to provide for full reparation to the Lebanese people and Palestinian people in Gaza for damages caused and precipitated by the unlawful use of military force; and to ensure the removal of cluster bombs and un-detonated munitions.
Sign at:

http://www.justforeignpolicy.org /
click on Lebanon to go to petition

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Comment from Oversea Visitor:

Ghost dog please post this as articles please

not much time
If US veto all hell going to break loose
Need attention by itself.

I say we too near potential danger now

[mtice]

1. The General Assembly has no power to act

All it can do is pass resolutions.

Anyway, the UN already has a resolution on this matter, UNSC resolution 1559, which says that Syria must get its agents out of Lebanon, and that Hezbollah must be disarmed. Israel right now is the only country acting to enforce that resolution; nobody else has lifted a finger to see Hezbollah disarmed, which is a major part of the reason why we have the mess today.

[bigtree]

2. but they can influence the debate surrounding the 'peace' discussions

It shouldn't be lost on anyone that the US and Israel use the UN as justification to initiate, continue, and further their imperialism. We shouldn't leave the avenues of dissent to all of that unexplored.

[Mandate My Ass]

3. UN res 242 is also being defied

and has been since 1967. Also unilateral enforcement of a UN resolution is, itself, a breach of international law.

[Ghost Dog]

4. General Assembly 'recommends':

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniting_for_Peace

United Nations General Assembly Resolution 377, also known as the "Uniting for Peace" Resolution, states that, in the event that the UN Security Council cannot maintain international peace, a matter can be taken up by the General Assembly. The resolution was initiated by the United States in 1950 as a means of circumventing possible Soviet vetoes.

"... if the Security Council, because of lack of unanimity of the permanent members, fails to exercise its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security in any case where there appears to be a threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression, the General Assembly shall consider the matter immediately with a view to making appropriate recommendations to Members for collective measures, including in the case of a breach of the peace or act of aggression the use of armed force when necessary, to maintain or restore international peace and security."

[mtice]

5. The Security Council did act

Therefore anything contingent on the failure of the UNSC to act does not apply to this situation. Anyway, the General Assembly is hardly a neutral arbiter on this question, with over 50 Muslim votes to one Jewish one. It's like 50 wolves and one sheep voting on what's for dinner.

[Ghost Dog]

6. Not so. US still resisting re-draft:

http://today.reuters.com/News/CrisesArticle.aspx?storyId=N09281115
US, France still differ on UN Mideast resolution
Wed 9 Aug 2006 1:22 PM ET

UNITED NATIONS, Aug 9 (Reuters) - The United States and France were at odds on Wednesday over an Israeli troop withdrawal from Lebanon, further delaying a U.N. resolution that could lead to a cease-fire in the four-week war between Israel and Hizbollah.

Facing Arab criticism that the current U.S.-French draft resolution favored Israel, the two co-sponsors agreed to change their U.N. Security Council draft after Lebanon on Monday announced it would deploy 15,000 soldiers in the south.

Both the United States and France want a quick vote on the resolution imposing a cease-fire. However, it has been difficult to craft a text all sides can accept and a draft may not be formally introduced until Thursday, with a vote probably a day later.

Paris and Washington disagree on when an international peace force, expected to be led by France, should enter south Lebanon and when Israel should withdraw, officials from both countries said.

French President Jacques Chirac threatened to introduce his own resolution no compromise was reached.

/...

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-08/10/content_4942450.htm
France, U.S. at odds over draft resolution on Lebanon
www.chinaview.cn 2006-08-10 05:41:08
UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- France and the United States, cosponsors of a draft UN resolution on Lebanon, differed from each other on Wednesday over how to respond to Arab calls for Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon and an immediate ceasefire.

<snip>

One of the sticking points was the timing of the withdrawal of Israeli troops and the entry into southern Lebanon by a new international force, UN diplomats said.

<snip>

Arab nations have rejected the current U.S.-French draft which does not specifically call for an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon after any end to hostilities.

Qatar's Foreign Minister Hamad bin Jassem Al-Thani, head of an Arab League delegation in New York to ask the 15-nation council to modify the French-U.S. draft resolution, asked the council Tuesday to take into account the concerns of Arab nations in a draft UN Security Council resolution seeking an end to the Israel-Hezbollah conflict.

The demands include an immediate and comprehensive cease-fire based on Israel's withdrawal behind the Blue Line, an exchange of Lebanese and Israeli prisoners, putting the disputed Shebaa Farms under the UN control, extending Lebanese government authority throughout the country and expanding the existing UN peacekeeping mission and providing international help to rebuild Lebanon.

/...

See also: http://news.google.co.uk/news?hl=en&lr=&ct=title&ie=UTF-8&q=UN+resolution&btnG=Search+News

[Ani Yun Wiya]

7. There are however...

more than 51 votes in this matter, right?
Aren't there more nations who have a vote in this situation?

[Ghost Dog]

8. UN Security Council has 15 members (5 permanent with veto):

http://www.un.org/sc/members.asp
The Council is composed of five permanent members — China, France, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States — and ten non-permament members (with year of term's end):
Argentina (2006) Greece (2006) Qatar (2007)
Congo (Republic of the) (2007) Japan (2006) Slovakia (2007)
Denmark (2006) Peru (2007) United Republic of Tanzania (2006)
Ghana (2007)

Formore on the General Assembly see here: http://www.un.org/ga/60/#

eg: http://www.un.org/ga/60/presskit/geninfo.htm

Functions and powers of the General Assembly
As set out in the Charter of the United Nations, the functions and powers of the United Nations General Assembly are:

To consider and make recommendations on the general principles of cooperation for maintaining international peace and security, including disarmament;

To discuss any question relating to international peace and security and, except where a dispute or situation is currently being discussed by the Security Council, to make recommendations on it;

To discuss, with the same exception, and make recommendations on any questions within the scope of the Charter or affecting the powers and functions of any organ of the United Nations;

To initiate studies and make recommendations to promote international political cooperation, the development and codification of international law, the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms and international collaboration in the economic, social, humanitarian, cultural, educational and health fields;

To make recommendations for the peaceful settlement of any situation that might impair friendly relations among nations;

To receive and consider reports from the Security Council and other United Nations organs;

To consider and approve the United Nations budget and establish the financial assessments of Member States;

To elect the non-permanent members of the Security Council and the members of other United Nations councils and organs and, on the recommendation of the Security Council, to appoint the Secretary-General.

Pursuant to its “Uniting for Peace” resolution of November 1950 (resolution 377 (V)), the Assembly may also take action if the Security Council fails to act, owing to the negative vote of a permanent member, in a case where there appears to be a threat to the peace, breach of the peace or act of aggression. The Assembly can consider the matter immediately with a view to making recommendations to Members for collective measures to maintain or restore international peace and security (see “Special sessions and emergency special sessions” below).

While the Assembly is empowered to make only non-binding recommendations to States on international issues within its competence, it has, nonetheless, initiated actions—political, economic, humanitarian, social and legal—which have affected the lives of millions of people throughout the world. The landmark Millennium Declaration that was adopted in 2000 reflects the commitment of Member States to reach specific goals spelled out in the Declaration to attain peace, security and disarmament along with development and poverty eradication, to protect our common environment, to meet the special needs of Africa and to strengthen the United Nations.

[Ani Yun Wiya]

9. Sorry, my error.

I was responding to post #4, must have hit the wrong reply button.

[Ghost Dog]

10. Aha! No problem. #5 I think you mean.

List of the 192 UN Member States here: http://www.un.org/Overview/unmember.html

[Ani Yun Wiya]

12. Right you are.

It was #5.
And I DID think that all nations have a vote in this matter.

[donheld]

17. They don't need the General Assembly to act.

They may not have the power inside the United Nations, but if they get their countries together they can act anyway they want. The US's bullying may be numbered.

[bluedog]

11. JEWISH SETTLER KIDS STONING HUMAN RIGHTS WORKERS IN ISRAEL

video............they are learning young...kind of like them writing on war heads


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBIcdoOKB9c&mode=related&search=Settlers

[lisainmilo]

13. WOW...just an average person here

I am just an average person here and have no idea what everyone just said. lol sorry. So in laymens terms, if I wish for an immediate cease fire what do I do?

:dem:

[mtice]

16. Find a beach

Bring shovel, dig hole, bury head in sand.

[JackNewtown]

14. Only two Senators have called for a cease-fire

Why is that? Surely the other 98 don't agree with the Olmert/Bush/Netanyahu/PNAC position on this?

[Oversea Visitor]

15. You know if US veto

Then Un resolution dead.
Arab league if they take action to solve crisis will be WAR with Isreal.

Lets talk.
One cannot just spin how much all ARABS country hate Isreal and yet refuse to look at reality that such SPIN can create.

War with 22 countries ARAB LEAGUE must not happen
US has troops in Iraq. It means they be caught in middle.
It means they get kill and US get pull in .... No choice
US congress or Senate need even vote. Cause if path of WAR happen already too late.

bush say "BRING IT ON"
Well dreams now very near to reality
Delay delay until Lamont result.
Maybe see writting oon wall for himself
Why need alter law in war crime if not see threat
Why all feel danger
You know bush better
Will he use this to force more war
Cause only way to solve Nov
Only way to escape punishment
Sad

Hole so damn big
He crazy maybe buried us all to save useless hide of his.

US veto of UN resolution will start a chain of events that we all lose control off
MAdness grip the World.

[DemReadingDU]

18. K&R