How Netanyahu using ...
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For many American hardliners, Israel matters more than some US states. The US, at the same time, holds the veto power in the UN Security Council, which is the only body whose resolutions are binding and enforceable. While the UN secretary-general may speak out strongly, or the International Court of Justice may condemn Israeli actions, these judgments only matter if they are taken up by the Security Council. And there, a single US veto is enough to shut things down, even if European states fall in line behind the condemnation, or countries like Spain and some Arab nations speak up in favor of Palestinian statehood, their influence is greatly watered down when the great powers are lined up behind Israel.
Israel has also latched onto the idea that criticism of its actions is tantamount to opposing Middle Eastern stability — or even American power itself. It portrays its military operations as being carried out on behalf of these very powers. As long as this narrative holds sway, global public opinion or symbolic gestures from smaller states will have little real impact on Israeli policy.
As a result, unless the big powers change course, the UN will remain toothless when it comes to holding Israel accountable. Given this blanket of protection from major powers and the Security Council’s inaction, Israel has felt free to shrug off international law. For any real change to occur, a cease-fire must be reached in Gaza, even if the current conditions are not ideal. Ending the war would pull the rug out from under Netanyahu and strip him of the narrative that has kept him afloat. If that happens, it could open the door to real diplomatic momentum.
Until then, the odds of Palestinian advocates or supporters getting a meaningful plan off the ground remain slim. As long as the war rages on, Netanyahu and his allies will continue to cash in on chaos, using it as both a shield and a stepping stone.