stanchion - stan-CHEE-YON - an upholding or supporting pole
Example: "Many Palestinians announced hope that Obama would become the stanchion for what they called 'a fair & equal treatment' in the Gaza Strip."
As a starter: and as a former teacher in English, I hope to add to reader's vocabulary by presenting a word a day in simple terms that anyone can understand - from current use in publications, radio,TV, etc. Remember: use a new word three times in a day and it's yours forever!