DJOP commends Biden for veto of UN resolution on ceasefire

Democratic Jewish Outreach Pennsylvania (DJOP) said today that the US veto of a
United Nations resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza “shows President
Biden understands that a lasting ceasefire requires a commitment from both parties,
Israel and Hamas — and Hamas has shown no such interest.”
Jill Zipin, DJOP Chair, said that the veto demonstrates the Biden administration’s
recognition that calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, while perhaps well intentioned, will not
bring about the desired result of a long-term cessation of violence. She stated:
“In spite of international pressure for the US to support such steps, President Biden
realizes that there is no evidence that Hamas will not repeat its murderous invasion of
Israel if given the opportunity. Nor do these calls for an immediate ceasefire recognize
that just as any other nation that has been invaded, Israel had little if any choice but to
undertake strong retaliatory action.”
Zipin pointed to a statement by U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield,
who said the US believes a hostage agreement “represents the best opportunity to
reunite all hostages with their families and enable a prolonged pause in fighting.  We
want this deal to take place as soon as possible, but sometimes diplomacy takes
more time than we would like.”
Biden’s Secretary of State, Tony Blinken, has had numerous urgent discussions with
Arab leaders requesting that they delay a vote because it could hamper ongoing U.S.
efforts to reach a hostage agreement and a temporary ceasefire, a US official said. The
State Department noted that none agreed to the request. On Monday the US circulated
its own Security Council draft resolution that calls for a “temporary ceasefire”, but did
not stipulate a timeframe, saying it should come “as soon as practicable”; and be based
on the release of all hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. It is unclear whether that draft
will come to a vote.
“It takes only one party to start a war, but both sides need to agree to a ceasefire,” Zipin
said. “President Biden’s personal involvement in efforts to combine a ceasefire with the
final release of all the hostages held captive by Hamas and its allies is but one
indication of his obvious compassion and commitment to peace in the Middle East.”