As the UN voted today to endorse the Goldstone report on Gaza – note the countries that sided with Israel, the US and Australia: how many client states can you count? – William Blum in his regular Killing Hope newsletter reminds us how isolated the US and Israel remain on another key human rights issue:
For years American political leaders and media were fond of labeling Cuba an “international pariah”. We don’t hear much of that any more. Perhaps one reason is the annual vote in the General Assembly on the resolution, which reads: “Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba”. This is how the vote has gone:
Year | Votes (Yes-No) | No Votes |
---|---|---|
1992 | 59-2 | US, Israel |
1993 | 88-4 | US, Israel, Albania, Paraguay |
1994 | 101-2 | US, Israel, Uzbekistan |
1995 | 117-3 | US, Israel, Uzbekistan |
1996 | 138-3 | US, Israel, Uzbekistan |
1997 | 143-3 | US, Israel |
1998 | 157-2 | US, Israel |
1999 | 155-2 | US, Israel, Marshall Islands |
2000 | 167-3 | US, Israel, Marshall Islands |
2001 | 167-3 | US, Israel, Marshall Islands |
2002 | 167-3 | US, Israel, Marshall Islands |
2003 | 173-3 | US, Israel, Marshall Islands, Palau |
2004 | 179-3 | US, Israel, Marshall Islands, Palau |
2005 | 182-4 | US, Israel, Marshall Islands, Palau |
2006 | 183-4 | US, Israel, Marshall Islands, Palau |
2007 | 184-4 | US, Israel, Marshall Islands, Palau |
2008 | 185-3 | US, Israel, Palau |
2009 | 187-3 | US, Israel, Palau |