world
U.N. Defeat
Palestinian unilateralism now seen
as 'losing its luster.'
Sean Savage
Palestinian statehood, voted in favor.
Israel subsequently summoned the French
ambassador to the Jewish state and said
it was "disappointed and perplexed" by
everal months of campaigning
France's voting decision.
for unilateral Palestinian state-
But at the same time, Israel has found
hood recognition culminated
new allies on the international stage,
in a diplomatic blitz by the Palestinian
including Australia and sub-Saharan
Authority during the last few days of
African nations.
2014. But the campaign ground to a halt
"The Australian government appears
on Dec. 30, when the United Nations
to be leaning quite pro-Israeli. The U.K.
Security Council rejected a Palestinian
appeared to be more concerned with the
resolution that called for an Israeli
lack of transparency of the pro-
withdrawal from the West Bank
cess, and voiced those concerns
by 2017 and the establishment of
at [the Dec. 30] meeting. It was
a Palestinian state with borders
interesting to hear Rwanda voice
based on the pre-1967 lines.
similar concerns:' Schanzer told
It was the second such defeat
JNS.org.
for the Palestinians at the Security
After initially supporting the
Council, the first coming in 2011.
resolution, Nigeria changed its
WC=
"[The resolution's failure] is no
stance and voted to abstain.
Mahmoud
great surprise, since the United
Rwanda also abstained.
Abbas at
States has a veto [at the Security
The Middle East Adviser for
the United
Council]:' Jonathan Schanzer,
the Permanent Mission of Israel
Nations
vice president for research at
to the U.N., Israel Nitzan, said
the Foundation for Defense of
in a statement after the vote that
Democracies, told JNS.org. "However,
the Palestinians have continued to avoid
it was somewhat surprising that the
direct talks with Israel.
Palestinians failed to garner the nine 'yes'
"The Palestinians have found every
votes to force a U.S. veto. This seems to
possible opportunity to avoid direct
suggest that the Palestinians failed to do
negotiations:' Nitzan said. "They have
enough diplomatic legwork before push-
engaged in a never-ending string of politi-
ing for a last-minute vote at the Security
cal games and now they are parading into
Council."
this Council with preposterous unilateral
Schanzer said his sense "is that
proposals:'
Palestinian unilateralism is losing its lus-
Shortly after their defeat at the U.N.,
ter at the United Nations, but also on the
the Palestinians chose to sign the Rome
Palestinian street."
Statute in order to join the International
On Dec. 29, U.S. State Department
Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague. At
spokesman Jeff Rathke had said America
a signing ceremony in Ramallah, Abbas
believes the Palestinian resolution "fails
said that the Security Council let the
to account for Israel's legitimate security
Palestinian people down.
needs, and the satisfaction of those needs,
Abbas has long promised to join the
of course, integral to a sustainable settle-
ICC as a way to put pressure on Israel,
mete
opening up the possibility that Israel could
Before the vote, British Ambassador to
be tried for war crimes in the disputed
the U.N. Mark Lyall Grant also said that
territories. But by joining the ICC, the
he was concerned about the resolution's
Palestinians also open themselves up to
language. The U.K. was ultimately one of
war crimes probes as well as possible
five Security Council members to abstain
repercussions such as sanctions by the
from the vote. The U.S. and Australia
U.S., which opposes Palestinian unilateral-
voted against the measure, which garnered ism.
eight affirmative votes, falling one short of
In response to the moves by Abbas,
passage.
Netanyahu said that the Palestinians have
Argentina, Chad, Chile, China, France,
more to fear from the ICC than Israel does
Jordan, Luxembourg and Russia voted in
due to the actions of the Hamas terrorist
favor of the Palestinian resolution. The
group.
tight vote highlighted some shifting atti-
"We will adopt steps in response [to the
tudes about Israel, especially in Europe
Palestinians joining the ICC] and we will
and Africa. Notably, the French, whose
protect the soldiers of the IDF—the most
parliament recently adopted a resolu-
moral army in the world:' Netanyahu said
tion urging the government to recognize
in a statement. ❑
JNS.org
S
obituaries
SYLVIA BAKER, 91, of
Southfield, died Jan. 1,
2015.
She is survived by
her children, Deanna
and Bob Slone of
Poinciana, Fla., Bruce
and Carol Baker of
Baker
Commerce Township,
Susan and Gary Miller
of Milan; grandchil-
dren, Steven and Jenifer Slone, Joshua
and Shayla Slone; great-grandchildren,
Samantha and Ryan Slone; sister, Arlene
Malin. Mrs. Baker is also survived by
Stephen and Barbara Friedman; caregiv-
ers, Ellie and Beverly; many other loving
relatives and friends.
Mrs. Baker was the beloved wife of the
late Ernest Baker.
Interment was at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery. Contributions may be made
to Celiac Disease Foundation, 13251
Ventura Blvd., Suite 1, Studio City, CA
91604, www.celiac.org ; Oakland Talking
Book Service, 500 Olde Towne Road,
c/o Rochester Public Library, Rochester,
MI 48037, www.rhpl.org; or a charity
of one's choice. Arrangements by Ira
Kaufman Chapel.
RONNA MARILYN
BASSIN, 67, of West
Bloomfield, died Dec. 31,
2014.
Mrs. Bassin was a
former Spanish teacher
at West Bloomfield High
School. She then became
Bassin
comptroller at Akiva. She
was a past president of
Wayne State University
Hillel and was also a member of the M.S.
Society, active with their support groups.
She is survived by her husband of 45
years, Larry Bassin; sons and daughter-
in-law, Jason Bassin of Detroit, Benjamin
and Lesley Bassin of Superior Towship;
sister and brother-in-law, Joyce and Mickey
Aller of Farmington Hills; brother and
sister-in-law, Larry and Fay Kritzer of West
Bloomfield; grandchildren, Jack Bassin,
Caleb Bassin; nieces and nephews, Melissa
Kritzer, Samantha Kritzer, Tracey and
Dennis Ahlzadeh, Matthew Aller.
Contributions may be made to Multiple
Sclerosis Society, 21311 Civic Center Drive,
Southfield, MI 48076. Interment was held at
Clover Hill Park Cemetery in Birmingham.
Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial
Chapel.
GARY L. BERGER, 77,
Berger
of West Bloomfield,
died Dec. 30, 2014.
He is survived by
his sons and daugh-
ters-in-law, Shay
and Kristina Berger
of West Bloomfield,
Obituaries
Scott and Marla Berger; daughter and
son-in-law, Stacy and Paul O'Bryan of
Commerce Township; grandchildren,
Emma, Harrison, Justin, Addison, Ethan,
Jayden, Sloane and Layla; many other
loving family members and friends.
Mr. Berger was the former husband of
the late Angel Berger; brother of the late
Susan Berger
Contributions may be made to the
National Kidney Foundation or the
American Heart Association. Interment
was held at Machpelah Cemetery in
Ferndale. Arrangements by Dorfman
Chapel.
LUDWIG BERMAN, 90,
of Southfield died Dec.
30, 2014.
Born in Barbovo,
Czechoslovakia, Mr.
Berman survived four
concentration camps;
Auschwitz, Gleiwitz,
Ludwig
Gross-Rosen and
Berman
Buchenwald. After the
war, he was instrumental
in secretly transporting
more than 900 children
to Israel with the Bricha.
Mr. Berman worked in
6 UST the insurance business
IVOR
and building business for
more than 40 years. His
strength, kindness and
love for his family and Israel are his legacy.
Mr. Berman was the happiest when he
spent time with his children, grandchil-
dren and great-grandchildren. Holidays
were always a very special time, and his
smile, hugs and kisses will forever be
remembered.
He was the loving husband for 68 years
of the late Ella Berman, who passed away
just nine days prior.
Mr. Berman is survived by his sister,
Malca Schwartz of New Jersey; sons and
daughters-in-law, Harvey (Shelly Kovacs)
Berman of Ann Arbor, Sidney (Sharon)
Berman of Huntington Woods; daughter
and son-in-law, Sherry (Steve) Shanbom
of Bloomfield Hills; grandchildren, Marc
(Katie) Berman, Sandra Berman, Josh
Berman, Julia Berman, Cory Shanbom
and Tyler Shanbom; great-grandchildren,
Elliana and Karolina Berman.
Mr. Berman was the beloved son of the
late Wolf and the late Sura Berman; broth-
er of the late Brucha Leah, the late Zlata,
the late Zreal and the late Mindel Berman.
Interment was at Hebrew Memorial
Park. Contributions may be made to
the Holocaust Memorial Center, 28124
Orchard Lake Road, Farmington Hills,
MI 48334; or to a charity of one's choice.
Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial
Chapel.
Obituaries on page 58
January 8 • 2015
57