The United Nations Security Council has passed literally dozens of resolutions condemning the Israelis for using disproportionate levels of force and/or urging them to abide by earlier decisions aimed at reducing tensions and reviving the peace process. Each of these has been watered down, though, usually at the insistence of the United States - out of fear that America will use its veto as a permanent member of the council to shoot down anything that might actually punish the Jewish state for its actions and lack of remorse. Thus the will of the international community is thwarted, the principle of collective security is trampled underfoot, and the Israelis get away with murder and various other crimes: They can colonize occupied land, starve civilian populations, hold thousands of people - including hundreds of women and children - without either charging them or recognizing them as prisoners of war, and kill scores of innocents with either malice aforethought or criminal negligence.‏