UN and US ‘concern’ over Gaza is facile

Amid increased civilian causalities in Gaza, the best the UN and US can do is "express concern".

The long history of Israeli attitudes to UN resolutions would tell us that Benjamin Netanyahu will not get much indigestion from such facile declarations. The selective references to international law, continually quoted by Israeli government spokespersons to justify the onslaught, show that they will play by their own rules. They can do this content in the knowledge that their military/industrial complex will continue to be funded by their unquestioning ally, the United States. So Barack Obama can ease his conscience with his hand-wringing at the actions of Israel in Gaza, but only economic sanctions, as are applied to Hamas, will stop Israel’s violation of international law.

I doubt this Nobel prize winner will accede to sanctions. Mr Obama’s version of peace-making includes summary executions and unmanned drones and he maintains a vast military/industrial complex.