John Buttrick writes from his Vermont Rocker in his Concord home, Minds Crossing. He can be reached at johndbuttrick@gmail.com

On Friday, Dec. 8, the United States Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations, Robert A. Wood, vetoed a proposed resolution to declare a humanitarian cease fire in Gaza. Out of fifteen members of the Security Council, thirteen members voted in favor of the resolution. England abstained. The United States abandoned its democratic principles by using its veto against a near unanimous vote in favor of calling for a cease fire in Gaza.

A minority of one, the United States chose to invalidate the democratic will of the Council and the Council’s influence on the member states. Robert Woods’s veto was completely contrary to U.S. faith in democratic governance.

Also, by using the veto, the United States reneged on its agreed commitment to the principles of the United Nations Security Council charter: “The Security Council has primary responsibility, under the UN Charter, for the maintenance of international peace and security… The Security Council takes the lead in determining the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression. It calls upon the parties to a dispute to settle it by peaceful means and recommends methods of adjustment or terms of settlement.”

By maintaining a position supporting the continuation of the Israeli-Gazan war, the United States rejects the Security Council’s mandate to “settle disputes by peaceful means.” A cease fire in Gaza would have been the first step toward a peaceful resolution.

Finally, the United States, contrary to its commitment to international humanitarian law, has turned a deaf ear to the cry of suffering and destruction in Gaza. The president of the Security Council, Jose Javier de la Gasca Lopez Dominguez, has written, “more than eight weeks of hostilities in Gaza and Israel have created appalling human suffering, physical destruction, and collective trauma across Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. More than 1,200 people were killed, including 33 children and thousands were injured in acts of terror by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups on October 7, 2023.”

Since the start of the Israeli’s military operation in Gaza, more than 18,000 people have been reportedly killed. 40% have been children. More than half of all homes have been destroyed. 80% of the population has been forcibly displaced. Nowhere is safe in Gaza. Also, people in the occupied Palestinian territory are facing increasing military raids and violence from Israeli settlers. Americans, those who have ears, let us hear.

What is it that stops the ears and covers the eyes of the United States Congress and executive branch in their relationship with Israel? It appears, America’s relationship with Israel is very much like parents who are unable to comprehend or accept any misbehavior acted out by their child.

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For example, it is difficult for friends of Israel to believe that the Israeli Defense Force would strip Palestinians, allegedly Hamas, of their clothes and hold them in the desert sun. It is also difficult to hear Jerusalem’s Deputy Mayor Arieh King tweet, “If it were up to me… I would bring 4 D9’s [bulldozers], place them behind the sandy hills and give an order to bury all those hundreds of Nazis alive. They are not human beings and not even human animals, they are subhuman and that is how they should be treated…”

It’s a desperate time. It’s time to grieve over a veto that violates America’s commitment to “the tired, the poor, and the huddled masses yearning to be free.” It is a time to grieve over a veto that accepts the death of 18,000 Palestinians as the cost of a futile effort to defeat Hamas. It is time to grieve for the suffering resulting from the U.S. veto. The function of the United Nations suffers. The character of the United States suffers. The Palestinians suffer injustice, indignity, and death. Hamas suffers the results of anger and desperation. Israel suffers from abuses of its power that creates more enemies. Nations suffer from the demand to choose a side.

However, it could be the time to end the grieving and begin a time of action. The United States could be a leader in ending the spiral of hate, fear, desperation, and death by recommitting to human rights of equality and equity among all people, recommitting to its agreements with the United Nations, and recommitting to protecting civilians from the ravages of war. Americans and Congress must open their eyes and ears to the reality of a war that breeds dishonesty, denial, death, and unredeemable suffering. And the president must personify America’s ethical and moral aspirations in his statements and actions.

These actions may lead to an honest conversation with America’s friend, Israel. The oppression of Palestinians and the war with Hamas and Gaza must stop. Until a cease fire is declared, the United States, in Israel’s best interest and security, must take a stand against Israel’s abuse of power and choose to withhold the billions of dollars of military aid and weaponry. Also, the U.S. must withdraw its policy of complicity with Israel’s deception that it can continue the war with very few civilian casualties.

It won’t be easy to maintain friendship with Israel while explaining to Israel that these actions will benefit its future security. It won’t be easy to begin a time of negotiation and conflict resolution. But neither is war and its justification easy.