Israel's 'disengagement' carrot wilts
UN returns to full condemnation of Jewish state

By Ryan Jones
December 4, 2005
Jerusalem Newswire
Original Source: http://www.jnewswire.com/library/article.php?articleid=890

Following his warm welcome at and highly publicized appearance before the United Nations in mid-September, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon joyfully told Israelis they had entered a new era of respect and understanding from the international community.
Seemingly pro-Israel moves within the world body following Israel's “disengagement” from Gaza and northern Samaria were touted as proof the traumatic surrender of parts of their biblical homeland had won the Jews of Israel the sought after diplomatic rewards.
On Friday, everything went back to normal. With Sharon's withdrawal and the pain it caused thousands and perhaps millions of his countrymen a distant memory, the Gentile nations of the world made clear they view the disengagement as little more than an initial step towards Israel's full capitulation.
Voting 156-6, the members of the UN's General Assembly passed a resolution insisting Israel follow up its Gaza pullout by also leaving all of Judea and Samaria, those hilly regions that constitute the heart of Israel's biblical and ancient homeland.
Australia, Israel, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, and the United States voted against the measure.
The next vote in what has become an annual Israel-bashing ritual focused on Jerusalem.
In a resolution adopted by 153 member states, the UN told Israel that any actions taken to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration in Jerusalem are illegal and therefore null and void.
Costa Rica, Israel, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, and the US opposed.
The leading candidates for prime minister in Israel's upcoming general election have all vowed to maintain Jerusalem's unity under Israeli rule.
Many in Israel, however, are skeptical international pressure won't manage to reverse that position, considering Sharon's previous insistence that Jewish Gaza was as important as Tel Aviv and would never be uprooted.