US behind Israel’s exclusion from ‘List of Shame': Activist

Press TV has conducted an interview with Joe Catron, member of the International Solidarity Movement in New York, to discuss a decision by the United Nations to keep Israel off a list of children's rights violators.

The following is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: What do you make of this? On the one hand it has just been a couple of months that the official from the UN has actually said about the number of people killed in Gaza at UN schools and elsewhere. Then on the other hand this happens, this so-called “List of Shame” and Israel is not included in the list. What does this say about the role of the UN in all of this?

Catron: Unfortunately what we are seeing is the result of a very public process of pressure from the United States government. We have heard threats from members of the United States Senate to block funding to the United Nations if Israel were included on this list.

So despite the fact that it has obviously earned the place, it was I believe the third most deadly country for children in the last year. It has managed to avoid being held to account yet again through the intervention of the United States which is continuing its role as Israel’s foremost international supporter.  

Press TV: And what do you attribute that to? Is it because the Zionists or those who are pro-Israel in general are so organized together and they make sure that any type of movement or any type of entity, whatsoever that tries to do something against Israel is subjected to so much pressure or is it something greater than this?

Catron: There is a great deal of debate about that whether the United States unwavering support for Israel is the result of its geopolitical interests or domestic political pressure.

Personally, I tend to think the later is more likely. The sheer bulk and scale of the Zionist movement in our country forces our government into a position where one of the primary talking points it seems for many of our elected officials is their support for Israel. However little it has to do with actual concerns of their constituents because of Israeli supporters, campaign contributions and in some cases the amounts of votes which they are able to mobilize.

The United States government time and again ends up doing this, supporting crimes by Israel in international fora like the United Nations, particularly the Security Council. I think at this point most of us have lost track of the number of times the United States has vetoed resolutions critical of Israel there.

Press TV: Well you are an activist in dealing with this whole situation as for as Palestinian active, pro-Palestine active. What about this side of things, those who actually are against this type of oppression? What is the difference?

Is it something that is done on purpose to keep this side from actually putting that same type of pressure on various entities or is it a lack of organizations? What is the difference if we look at as for as the pro-Israel aspect or groups who are Zionists and how well-organized they are and how they exert this pressure? Why can’t the other side do the same thing?  

Catron: That is an excellent question and the answer is probably everything you said and more. Certainly, it has something to do with organizations. The Zionist institutions are deeply rooted, have decades of experience and influence that they have built up. They are also able to command a great deal of will that this past weekend alone we have seen ostensibly secrets not terribly secrets gathering in Las Vegas by some of the foremost Zionist contributors in the country who are figuring out their strategy for closing the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement which is nevertheless growing by leaps and bounds.

So at this point I think the historical trend is world turning against them, the future does not necessarily look ideal for them but they are still able to influence a great deal of power.

Press TV: But are you optimistic that things are turning around or starting to change?

Catron: Yes, I think that is clear. I think the fact that they are now panicking, that we see these kinds of public moves, of billion dollar donors coming together of the Israeli government discussing the declining international support at the highest levels, and they are making it very clear to us that there are worries and I do think there is hope to be found in that.

AHK/HMV

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