NEW YORK – The United States abstained from a United Nations Security Council vote on a resolution that calls contentious Israeli settlements in Palestine unlawful.
The U.S. typically vetoes such resolutions.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the adoption of a Security Council resolution which states that the establishment of Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, have “no legal validity,” constitute a “flagrant violation” under international law and are a “major obstacle” to a two-State solution and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace.
“The resolution is a significant step, demonstrating the Council’s much needed leadership and the international community’s collective efforts to reconfirm that the vision of two States is still achievable,” the UN chief’s spokesperson said in a statement.
“The Secretary-General takes this opportunity to encourage Israeli and Palestinian leaders to work with the international community to create a conducive environment for a return to meaningful negotiations,” the spokesperson added. “The United Nations stands ready to support all concerned parties in achieving this goal.”
Earlier this afternoon, the 15-member Council adopted the resolution by a vote of 14 in favour and with one abstention – the United States abstained from the vote. The resolution had been put forward by Malaysia, New Zealand, Senegal and Venezuela.
In the resolution, the Council reiterated its demand that Israel “immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and that it fully respect all of its legal obligations in this regard.”
The Council also underlined that it will not recognize any changes to the 4 June 1967 lines, including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties through negotiations.
The resolution called for immediate steps to prevent all acts of violence against civilians, including acts of terror, as well as all acts of provocation and destruction, and for accountability in that regard, as well as for both parties to act on the basis of international law, including international humanitarian law, and previous agreements and obligations, “to observe calm and restraint, and to refrain from provocative actions, incitement and inflammatory rhetoric.”
It further called for compliance with obligations under international law for the strengthening of ongoing efforts to combat terrorism, including through existing security coordination, and to clearly condemn all acts of terrorism.
The Council also urged for intensification and acceleration of international and regional diplomatic efforts and support aimed at achieving, without delay a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East on the basis of the relevant United Nations resolutions, the Madrid terms of reference, including the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative and the Quartet Roadmap and an end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967.
Is response, United States House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) said “This is absolutely shameful. Today’s vote is a blow to peace that sets a dangerous precedent for further diplomatic efforts to isolate and demonize Israel. Our unified Republican government will work to reverse the damage done by this administration, and rebuild our alliance with Israel.”
In an ominous tweet, President-elect Donald Trump said “As to the U.N., things will be different after Jan. 20th.”
As to the U.N., things will be different after Jan. 20th.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 23, 2016
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was furious in the wake of the resolution”
More evidence that all religions are worthless and only serve to divide and spread hate. Get rid of them all.
No one cares what you have to say. We should get rid of you and Trump has people like you in his sights.
You apparently do as you seem to follow me around and comment on every post I make. Your little infatuation with me is certainly cute and flattering. Trump lied to your face and is now working against your best interest. That’s what the poorly educated voted for!
You couldn’t hurt my feeling with a club you damn sissy. It is Gutless Cowards like you that keep me going, so, keep up the good work TROLL. Communist like you should and will be run out. Thank God we now have Trump to take care of that.
The Racist is scared Trump will take away his Obama phone and EBT card. Chickenshit!
You are just pissed because you are going to lose your Obama phone and EBT card. Go Trump!
Just because it is Israel doesn’t mean it has to do with religion, sounds more political to me.
President Obama betrayed the United States and Israel. Everyone should know by now that Obama has been undermining the United States for the last 8 years every chance he could. I am so glad to see this louse leave office!
Who Owns the “West Bank”?
The ancient lands of Judea and Samaria, east of Jerusalem, have been part of the Jewish homeland for 3,000 years. Today Arabs demand all of it.
Judea and Samaria, the land where Jewish ancestors Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rachel, David and Solomon created Biblical history, was renamed the “West Bank” during Jordan’s brief, illegal 19-year occupation. Today, some 380,000 Jews own land and live in the territory, yet their rights are denied by Palestinian Arabs.
http://factsandlogic.org/ad_151/
I wouldn’t call them Palestinian Arabs, I would call them terrorists.
Why does Congress seem to be so pro Israel? Could it be that the pro-Israel lobbyists gave our Congress people over $16 million in campaign contributions in 2014-15? The totals aren’t in for the past year but they have to be at that figure or above.
Obama runs the most corrupt administration ever. He just stabbed our closest ally in the back just to make it tougher for Trump. It won’t work. This is the type of administration we would have had with Crooked Hillary too.
Israel our closest ally? Hardly there little buckaroo.
Try Great Britain, Australia, Canada and others.
And we do not give them billions & billions in aid like we do Israel.
Israel “tolerates” the US because without us, they’d be toast and they damn well know it.
As to corrupt administrations, try Reagan as number one with Nixon with a close second.
“By the end of his term, 138 Reagan administration officials had been convicted, had been indicted, or had been the subject of official investigations for official misconduct and/or criminal violations.
In terms of number of officials involved, the record of his administration was the worst ever.”
“Nixon, Watergate was an attempt to rig the election. Nixon’s vice president, Spiro Agnew, was indicted for corruption and resigned before Nixon who have been impeached had he not resigned”
I should have said closest ally in the meddle east. They are about the only ones we have and Obama is going down in history as the worst, most corrupt president this country has ever seen. The divider in chief has struck again.
Typo-“middle” of course.
Many think of Israel as an ally, which it is not.
Israeli soldiers have never fought beside American troops and to be an ally you need an actual alliance on paper.
No such legally binding document exists between Washington and Tel Aviv.
Israel is self-serving only, as in when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, once commented that 9/11 was good for Israel.
Ya, some ally there.
See how close that Israel would be if we cut off all their funding.
And again, as to corrupt administrations, the Obama administration’s record is stellar when compared to Nixon & Reagan.
Hell even George “Dubya” Bush administration had more scandals & corruption issues than Obama’s ever even came close to.
Israel is our ally, I will give you that but they certainly not an ideal friend. Their extermination of the Palestinian nation by the Israelis has been nothing short of ethnic cleansing. Until Israel recognizes the Palestinian nation, they should be censured.
They are Muslim and as such should be eradicated. They have attacked and attacked Israel over and over again. I don’t blame them at all for fighting back. If they wanted to wipe them out they could easily do it.
If it were not for the billions & billions in military aid the we give the Israeli’s, they couldn’t kick Lichtenstein’s ass.
Ridiculous comment. Israel is the one who has attacked the Palestinian settlements on the West Bank. Their policy of eradicating the Palestinians could lead to its being classified as a terrorist state. Israel has continually violated the terms of the Geneva Convention in regards to Palestine. Their prime minister, Netanyahu, as stated above, thought 9/11 was good for Israel because it moved the American public’s opinion to a more favorable one for Israel.
the west bank belongs to israel and always has, the muslims came in and when they realized that they couldn’t take it by force they got the UN to do it for them.
“the west bank belongs to Israel and always has”
You need to read up on history and get some factual information.
Palestine is not now nor have they ever been a nation, they started out as a terrorist organization that just got bigger.
UN = NWO ?
Ha ha sure.