Just as pressure may rise on the regime in Syria for abuse of protesters at the UN, Israel takes the focus for killing as many as 20 on the Golan Heights. Any effort to raise pressure on Assad’s government in Damascus through United Nations organs is being deflated. It is impossible to single out Assad’s regime at the UN while ignoring Israel’s actions in the Golan. The US will prevent any censure of Israel, and thus Assad’s regime and its apologists will cry hypocrisy and selective justice even as UN Human Rights Council tries to for more than the last month to get its investigators into Syrian towns. Israel’s current government has accused Syria of employing the Palestinian demonstrations to detract from its own internal protests. Probably, but judging purely by the results, the hail of bullets that killed the unarmed Palestinian protesters has obliged Assad’s objective, inadvertently or otherwise. France on Syria Condemnation in UN Security Council France is testing the ground for a resolution to “condemn” Syria’s regime. Russia is transparently opposed and it is not clear that enough votes can be gather for passage, at least 9 of 15, regardless of a potential veto by Moscow. Undoubtedly Russia and others would demand some condemnation of Israel, and the United States would not allow that even as France and the EU would most likely oblige. Israel’s Response Assad is facing a countrywide revolution. By comparison, Israel’s security forces were confronted with an anticipated effort to breach the Israeli occupied Golan Heights boundary at only a few widely publicized areas. Also, contrary to Israeli claims that this was its international border, such is not recognized by UN and almost all states, but is considered “occupied”. (Thus Israel’s claim that it was defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity lacks standing within the UN legal and political framework). Having had ample time to prepare for these unarmed protesters applying a form of civil disobedience, UN officials have openly questioned not only Israeli restraint but also motive in such an unrestrained use of live fire. Israel had massed its soldiers in anticipation, but could it have employed such manpower to apprehend the Palestinian protesters and at some time thereafter send them back to Syria? Could Israel have worked with UN peacekeepers to affect a less deadly response? (Last option not really functional as it is only a very small UN contingent observing “truce” between Israel and Syria on Golan with no capacity or broader mandate – See Photo). Richard Falk, the American Princeton Professor and UN Special Rapporteur on Palestinian issues bluntly accused the Israeli Defense Forces of targeting the unarmed demonstrators with the purpose of sending a message, (as a similar scene had played out in the Golan only a few weeks earlier). Israeli Political Leaders Divided: Status Quo v Opportunity in Change However, what motive could Israel’s current government have, beyond callousness? Within diplomatic circles there is now speculation that Israel would prefer to deal with an unfriendly Arab despot than a meaningful Arab democracy. Does Israel prefer Assad to stay and even relieve some of the international pressure on him? Israel has long benefited from the rhetoric of identifying itself as the only democracy while living in a cold arranged peace with such Arab strongmen. However, the change in Cairo has evidenced that the new Egypt can be a greater challenge to this Israel government’s preference for the status quo as well as standard rhetoric. Of course Assad’s regime is allowing these Palestinians to traverse Syria to reach the Golan Heights, but why resort to shooting, and so many? Would Israel’s current leadership prefer to Assad to stare at across a cold barrier than to have to deal with a new democratic authority in Damascus? Does this Israeli government knitted from center to far right parties (some opposed to any two state solution) need to create its own circumstances to blunt challenges from the other side of the Israeli political spectrum which sees the status quo as increasingly dangerous for the Jewish state while envisioning Israel’s future in greater diplomatic engagement with the changing Arab World? Syria – Most that can be Expected is Continued Verbal Condemnation The above is speculation now tossed around among UN diplomats, and perhaps convenient to some of my sources. However, one point is certain - given Syria’s immediate proximity to Israel and now the killing of Palestinians, the range of options that can be directed against the Assad regime is at most verbal condemnation, and even that could prompt charges of double standards. Assad’s regime is avoiding sole focus for its grave violations of international humanitarian law. Related Reports – “War Crimes Justice” Channel - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/c/war-crimes-justice Including - “UN Secretary General: Arab Leaders Must do More for Change” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/arab-leaders-must-do-more-for-change-says-un-secretary-general-by-ambassador-mo/28132 By Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey Facebook Become a Fan at “Diplomatically Incorrect” Twitter – Follow at DiplomaticallyX