A semi-defense of the UNSC resolution on Israeli settlements

I must admit to feeling wobbly regarding the UN Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlement activity as “illegal.” I ended up supporting the American veto, but only reluctantly. Here are Jeff Goldberg’s thoughts:

1) All of you who tell me, when I’m giving speeches or speaking on panels, that President Obama is an enemy of Israel, could you please stop your nonsense for a while? Thank you.

2) It would be very nice if Prime Minister Netanyahu would reciprocate this enormous show of good will and confidence, by, oh, stopping settlement growth. Here are some other things Bibi could do.

3) Why couldn’t the U.S. convince the Palestinians to withdraw this resolution in the first place? Don’t we fund the Palestinian Authority government? This resolution, while emotionally satisfying to Palestinians, achieved nothing, except annoying the two countries — Israel and the U.S. — that the Palestinians most need to bring about the creation of a state.

I agree with point 1 and point 2, but I take slight issue with point 3.

American credibility is lower than ever. There was no cost to ignoring the U.S. on the issue, because Obama has never really explained the costs of ignoring his wishes. The lack of American credibility also increases the PA’s desperation to show its people that it’s agitating for statehood. Absent American underwriting of any positive steps, the UN is there next avenue. I don’t expect Israelis to find the resolution helpful, but I understand the Palestinian impulse to feel like they have to do something.