Draft United Nations resolution on Israeli settlements, 2011

The Draft United Nations resolution on Israeli settlements placed before the United Nations Security Council proposed that all Israeli settlements established in the occupied Palestinian territories after 1967 be condemned, and urged that Israel and Palestine comply with their obligations under the Road Map plan in order to establish a two-State solution. The resolution failed to pass after the United States exercised its right to veto on February 18, 2011. The other 14 members of the council voted in favour of the resolution.[1]

Background

The peace process was revitalized in September 2010, with direct talks between Israel and Palestine, with the U.S. supporting the negotiations. With little headway made, the Palestinian National Authority decided to present a draft resolution to the Security Council, resisting strong pressure from both United States President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.[2]

A month into the discussions a roadblock was hit when a 10-month settlement construction freeze was allowed to expire on September 26. On October 2, Mahmoud Abbas announced that peace negotiations will not continue until settlement construction is once again stopped.[3]

UN Security Council vote

The resolution was sponsored by over 120 of the UN's 192 members states. The U.S. attempted several times to persuade Palestine to rescind the resolution or accept a non-binding resolution instead. Palestine refused and brought the resolution to the Security Council. The final vote was 14 for and the U.S., whose vote holds veto power, alone was against it. The United States, in voting against a resolution that would have condemned Israeli settlements as illegal, argued that while settlement activity violated international legality, the resolution, if passed, would only harden the positions of both sides, complicate stalled negotiations and hinter future talks.[1][4] Over 120 U.N. member states supported the resolution. This was the first U.N. veto used by the Obama administration.[5][6] A spokesman for Mahmoud Abbas commented that the US veto allowed Israel to escape its obligations. Israel's Foreign Ministry expressed its appreciation for the US position, and expressed regret that the other Security Council members had refrained from making the same contribution.[7]

International response

A protest is held outside the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel, the day following the vote, with approximately 50 people attending it. One protestor was reported to have stated the protest was part of "a new campaign pointing a finger at the US complicity in Israeli crimes."[19] The following Sunday, approximately 3000 Palestinians gather in Ramallah to protest the veto.[20]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 'United States vetoes Security Council resolution on Israeli settlements.' UN News Center, 18 February 2011
  2. Joel Greenberg,'Palestinians protest U.S. veto of resolution condemning Israel's settlement policy,' at Washington Post, 20 February 2011.
  3. Saud Abu Ramadan, Emad Drimly, ‘Palestinians halt direct peace talks with Israel, keep contacts with U.S.,’ at Xinhuanet, October 3, 2010
  4. Barak Ravid and Reuters,'Palestinians: U.S. veto of UN settlement resolution harms the cause of peace,' at Haaretz 19 February 2011.
  5. Ali Sawafta, Maayan Lubell, ‘Palestinians will not spurn U.S. despite veto: Abbas,’ at Reuters (US), February 19, 2011.
  6. Maher Abukhater WEST BANK: Obama calls Mahmoud Abbas, who calls for urgent leadership meeting,‘ at Los Angeles Times,February 17, 2011
  7. Barak Ravid and Reuters,'Palestinians: U.S. veto of UN settlement resolution harms the cause of peace,' at Haaretz 19 February 2011.
  8. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/feb/19/us-veto-israel-settlement
  9. Abbas: Ties with U.S. won't be severed over veto of UN settlement resolution,' at Haaretz, 19 February 2011.
  10. Hamas Says US Veto ON un Draft Resolution On Jewish Settlement “Arbitrary”, Bernama.com (Malaysian National News Agency), 19 February 2011
  11. 'Israel ‘deeply appreciates’ U.S. veto on UN resolution condemning settlements,’ at Haaretz Feb 19, 2011.
  12. Gil Hoffman ‘Obama can go to hell,’ says Arab MK on UNSC vote,' at Jerusalem Post, 20 Feb, 2011
  13. Nasser Abu Bakr, 'Palestinians to make fresh UN anti-settlement bid,' at AFP Feb 19, 2011
  14. Ban KI-Moon 'Press Release,', Office of Ban Ki Moon, United Nations, 18 February 2011
  15. 'OIC slams US veto of UN resolution,' PressTV, Feb 20, 2011.
  16. 'Israel: US Veto on Settlements Undermines International Law,' at Human Rights Watch, 18 February 2011
  17. 'Day of rage' called to protest US veto,' at Arab News, 19 Feb 2011
  18. 'Palestinians plan 'Day of Rage' to protest U.S. veto on UN settlement resolution,' at Haaretz, 19 February 2011.
  19. Ben Hartman 'Protesters rally at US embassy in TA to slam UNSC veto,' at 19 Feb, 2011,
  20. Saed Bannoura, 'Thousands of Palestinians Protest U.S. Veto of Settlement Resolution,' at Imemc, 21 Feb, 2011.

External links

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