THE HINDU Editorial Vocabulary-December 26, 2016- Topic 2
In what is yet
another diplomatic blow for the two-state principle, the UN Security Council,
on Friday, passed a resolution with
a 14-0 majority urging Israel to halt its illegal settlements programme in the occupied Palestinian territories. The vote is
notable as Israel’s pre-eminent backer, the United States, chose to abstain. By
doing so, the Barack Obama administration bucked its earlier record of vetoing
a similar resolution in 2011. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump was prompt in
promising a different response once his tenure commences on January 20. He had
sought to work behind the back of Mr. Obama in trying to scuttle this
resolution by reaching out to Egypt, which originally drafted it but backed
down from its nomination due to “intense pressure”. But it will be difficult
for the Trump administration to have this resolution overturned, passed as it
was without a veto. That said, the resolution, by way of its adoption under
Chapter 6 of the UN Charter, is not binding and comes only with
recommendations. It therefore does not affect the status quo in the occupied
territories. Even so, its unambiguous language stating that the settlements
constitute a violation of international law offers hope for the Palestinians
who have filed a suit (that includes the construction of settlements) against
Israel in the International Criminal Court.
Israel’s reaction has been predictable.
It has refused to comply with the terms of the resolution. It has repeatedly
sought to create “new facts on the ground” by continuing to build settlements,
imposing a blockade on Gaza, forcing international censure to only keep apace
with its latest violations. This outrageous behaviour has been made possible by
the unrelenting support provided by the U.S. in the past. While Mr. Obama has
had a testy relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his administration
continued to fund and arm Israel despite, for example, the atrocities in Gaza.
The U.S. had also recently worked out a deal that provides $38 billion in
military aid over 10 years to Israel, cementing long-established strategic
ties. Seen in this light, the administration’s decision to abstain in the most
substantive resolution on Israeli settlements since 1980 is even more
remarkable. It is also a possible parting shot by the outgoing administration
before the unambiguously partisan Trump team takes charge. Either way, it is up
to the international community to take the cue and find ways to check and
censure Israel’s brazen rule-breaking, and forge a fair solution for the
Palestinians.
Vocabulary
Notable: worthy of attention or notice; remarkable.
Example: The gardens are notable for their collection of magnolias and camellias
Synonyms: noteworthy, remarkable, outstanding, important, significant
Abstain: restrain oneself from doing or enjoying something.
Example: Abstaining from chocolate
Bucked: oppose or resist something that seems oppressive or inevitable.
Example: The shares bucked the market trend
Synonyms: resist, oppose, defy, fight, kick against
Prompt: done without delay; immediate.
Example: The owner would have died but for the prompt action of two paramedics
Synonyms: quick, swift, rapid, speedy, fast, direct, immediate, instant
Scuttle: run hurriedly or furtively with short quick steps.
Example: A mouse scuttled across the floor
Unambiguous: not open to more than one interpretation.
Example: Instructions should be unambiguous
Predictable: able to be predicted.
Example: The market is volatile and never predictable
Synonyms: foreseeable, only to be expected, anticipated, foreseen
Apace: swiftly; quickly.
Example: Work continues apace
Synonyms: quickly, fast, swiftly, rapidly, speedily, briskly, without
delay
Cementing: attach with cement.
Example: Wooden posts were cemented into the ground
Synonyms: stick, bond, fasten, fix, affix, attach, secure, bind, glue
Cue: a long, straight, tapering wooden rod for striking the ball in pool,
billiards, snooker, etc..
Example: When the cue hits the object ball it will bend the tangent line back away
from the corner.
Synonyms: signal, sign, indication, prompt, reminder, nod, word, gesture