“Nothing guarantees its implementation” by Israel, says a former ambassador

The United States abstained from the adoption of a UN resolution for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

After more than five months of war, the United Nations Security Council adopted for the first time on Monday March 25 a resolution demanding an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza. A call blocked several times by the United States, which this time abstained, increasing the pressure on their Israeli ally, who did not appreciate it.

The Israeli government considered that this American abstention was harming its war efforts and the release of hostages in Gaza, of whom there are still 130, according to the Jewish state, of whom 33 are believed to have died. Hope is gradually fading for their families after 171 days of captivity. But for Gérard Araud, French ambassador to Israel (2003-2006), former French representative to the UN and author of Israel: the trap of history published by Tallendier, this resolution will only increase the pressure on Israel without forcing the Jewish state to respect this ceasefire.

franceinfo: Will Israel apply this resolution?

Gérard Araud: I am not convinced that Israel is implementing this resolution. Benjamin Netanyahu has repeated it several times: he wants to see the military operation through to the end. And he knows perfectly well that if, today, he accepted a ceasefire, it could be considered a victory for Hamas. What is interesting about this vote is the American abstention. The Americans have not yet voted for the resolution but it shows, little by little, the distance between Israel and the Biden administration. A Biden administration which is trapped between on one side its Democratic left which is pro-Palestinian, and on the other the bulk of the American electorate which remains pro-Israeli, and this in an election year.

“We have a bit of the impression of helplessness on the part of the American administration which doesn’t really know how to get out of it.”

Gérard Araud, French ambassador to Israel from 2003 to 2006

at franceinfo

Does Israel have the means to get very angry with its American ally?

Yes, because in a certain way it is the opposite that is happening. That is to say, the United States does not have the means to put pressure on Israel, because in an election year, that would be almost suicidal. The relationship between Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu is disastrous and has been for quite some time now. Everyone knows that, in any case, Benjamin Netanyahu will stab Biden in the back by acting as Donald Trump’s lawyer, saying that he has been abandoned by the Democratic administration. But once again Joe Biden is caught in this trap. He’s trying to get away with it and so, basically, he’s making both sides unhappy.

In your opinion, Joe Biden wants to do it “at the same time” so as not to displease his left?

Yes, it’s goat and cabbage. On the one hand, he wants to show, to give pledges to his democratic left and that is what he did by abstaining on this resolution. But on the other hand, he does not want to enter into conflict with the pro-Israeli majority and he continues to deliver weapons to Israel. The contradiction is patent.

Is the White House really surprised, as it says, by Israel’s reaction to the UN resolution?

I don’t think so and it’s normal that Israel, which was against this resolution, says it is surprised and indignant. It’s a little bit part of the rhetoric. But this resolution must then be implemented and nothing guarantees it.

“In the end, what matters is the ongoing negotiations in Qatar between the Qatari intelligence services which work, if I dare say so, on behalf of Hamas, Israel and the United States.”

Gérard Araud, French ambassador to Israel from 2003 to 2006

at franceinfo

So, perhaps this resolution can convince Israel to put a little water in its wine, but that is not guaranteed.

These resolutions are not binding on States?

Yes, according to American legal interpretation. For France, these resolutions are completely binding. But finally, at the same time, to constrain, you must have the means to constrain.

But does it still put some pressure on Israel?

Yes, naturally, it puts pressure on Israel in Israeli public opinion. This Israeli public opinion, let us not forget, is not only the parents of the hostages. There are demonstrations once a week with tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of Israelis demonstrating against the government. The problem is that the political survival of Benjamin Netanyahu, in a certain way, is linked to the continuation of the war. Because if the war stops, scores will be settled in Israel, particularly at the expense of Netanyahu, who is held responsible for the security fiasco of October 7.