As Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu desperately tries to pressure the United States into doing Israel’s dirty work in the Middle East, Sydney Hatchl writes to Redress Information & Analysis reminding readers of some basic common sense:

It is preposterous that Israel demands sanctions against Iran. Iran along with the permanent members of the Security Council, including the United States, has signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Israel has not signed the NPT, is thought to have nuclear weapons, has threatened military action against Iran to compel inspections, and has “demanded” that the United States attack Iran to ensure that Iran is not trying to build a nuclear bomb.

Fairness and justice would be served if Israel agreed to dismantle its nuclear capability and allow inspections. After all, that is how the United States and other permanent members of the Security Council approach this problem.

Why is that tiny state is allowed to make demands on the United States or any other country to look out for Israel’s specific interests? Israel continues to violate UN resolutions, refuses to withdraw from Palestinian land, and continues to build permanent settlements there in violation of the principles of international law and the express policy of the United States.

Timothy Alexander Guzman noted on 27 September 2013 that Israel has not only acquired nuclear weapons but has commissioned nuclear submarines armed with these weapons and expects to be able to threaten any nation in the world.

Perhaps the Security Council and the rest of the international community should levy sanctions against Israel until it allows inspections and disposes of any nuclear arms that it has.

Indeed. But who is listening? It is up to international civil society to force the Security Council and those who claim to be “the international community” to live up to their responsibilities and force Israel to disarm.