The United States should break ties with Israel.

I would like to respond to my opponent's arguments as follows: !. Isolating a country for deliberately flouting international law is not just the morally right thing to do but it also helps shore up build international security which can be beneficial to a country's own self-interest. For example, Russia backs Iran, and China backs North Korea, both of which are widely recognised as rogue states and both of which pose nuclear threats to Western interests in their respective regions. However, the United States is in no position to pressure China and Russia while America gives political, military and financial succour to Israel because China and Russia can turn round and say that the US is in no position to lecture them on foreign policy while the US continues to back a country which violates international law and human rights on a wholesale basis. 2. The occupation of a foreign territory may not always be illegal but Israel's' occupation of Palestine certainly is. the UN Security Council Resolutions 242 reads as follows:: "November 22, 1967 The Security Council, Expressing its continuing concern with the grave situation in the Middle East; Emphasising the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war and the need to work for a just and lasting peace in which every State in the area can live in security; Emphasising further that all Member States in their acceptance of the Charter of the United Nations have undertaken a commitment to act in accordance with Article 2 of the Charter; Affirms that the fulfilment of Charter principles requires the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East which should include the application of both the following principles: Withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict; Termination of all claims or states of belligerency and respect for and acknowledgement of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of every State in the area and their right to live in peace within secure and recognised boundaries free from threats or acts of force; Affirms further the necessity, For guaranteeing freedom of navigation through international waterways in the area; For achieving a just settlement of the refugee problem; For guaranteeing the territorial inviolability and political independence of every State in the area, through measures including the establishment of demilitarised zones; Requests the Secretary General to designate a Special Representative to proceed to the Middle East to establish and maintain contacts with the States concerned in order to promote agreement and assist efforts to achieve a peaceful and accepted settlement in accordance with the provisions and principles in this resolution; Requests the Secretary General to report to the Security Council on the progress of the efforts of the Special Representative as soon as possible." (1) The building of Jewish settlements just a further international crime Israel is accuse of and which presents a serious impediment to peace in the region. 3. Arabs in Israel are not treated as the equals of Jews in Israel. For example, just like in apartheid South Africa, Arabs have to use separate buses (2) and some private facilities such as the Superland Amusement Park segregates Arabs and Jews. (3) Thank you. (1) http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org... (2) http://www.newstatesman.com... (3) http://www.thenational.ae...