Events of the past week have highlighted how the US’ feckless indulgent behavior toward policies pursued by Israel have damaged America’s standing in the world. Two United Nations votes calling for a ceasefire in Gaza showed the US has been abandoned by most of our closest allies, many of whom are increasingly questioning our global leadership.

After more than two months, Israel’s relentless pummeling of Palestinians in Gaza has continued. By now the death toll has reached nearly 20,000, mostly civilians. Israel’s bombing in the north of Gaza reduced more than one-half of it to rubble, while forcing almost 2 million Palestinians to flee their homes. After the short humanitarian pause that allowed an exchange of hostages and captives, Israel shifted its bombing campaign to the south where they daily issue orders for Palestinians to move from one area to another, only to bomb the areas to which they’ve ordered relocation. In the make-shift camps that have sprung up in the south, hunger is rampant, as is disease. It is a humanitarian disaster being compounded by Israel’s behavior that can only be described as genocidal.

In the face of the enormity of this crisis, last week the UAE Mission to the UN introduced a resolution in the Security Council calling for a humanitarian ceasefire. The resolution was endorsed by 103 other countries—a record total of co-sponsors. It was deeply disturbing that the US used the time leading up to the vote expending considerable political capital to get others to join them in voting “no.”

They failed, and the final vote reflected the extent of US isolation—13 for the ceasefire, the US against, and the United Kingdom abstaining. Further evidence of America’s isolation came a day later when a non-binding ceasefire resolution introduced in the General Assembly received 153 votes, with the US and an embarrassing collection of nine other countries voting against it.

The US explanation for its veto and “no” vote was that the resolution was rushed through without enough time for consultation. This was patently and embarrassingly false as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has been two months in the making and the UAE resolution had been circulating for days, allowing ample time for discussion. Instead of negotiating, the US focused on arm-twisting to get other countries to join them in opposition. What has become........

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