UNSC to vote on resolution calling on 'Israel' to stop settlements

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli Media + Agencies
16 Feb 2023 10:22
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UN diplomats told The Times of "Israel" that the US has pushed back against bringing the resolution to a vote.

A UN Security Council meeting at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Feb. 6, 2023 (Reuters)

The United Nations Security Council is considering a draft resolution that would demand "Israel" to "immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory," Reuters reported on Wednesday.

On Saturday, the Israeli occupation security cabinet approved the "legalization" of nine illegal Israeli settlement outposts and the advance of nearly 10,000 "settlement units" in the occupied West Bank, which were established by settlers without the approval of Israeli governments.

The report cited diplomats as saying that the 15-member council is likely to vote on Monday on the text that was drafted by the United Arab Emirates in coordination with the Palestinian Mission to the UN.

According to Reuters, the text "reaffirms that the establishment by Israel of settlements in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, has no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law."

The draft resolution also condemns moves toward the further seizure of land by the Israeli occupation, including the "legalization" of settlement outposts.

US pushing back against the resolution

Two UN diplomats told The Times of "Israel" that the United States "has pushed back against Palestine's effort to bring the resolution to a vote."

Following the Israeli security cabinet's decision, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said his country is "deeply troubled by Israel's decision."

The Israeli newspaper cited the UN diplomats as saying that in order to avoid having to use its veto to block the resolution, Washington has encouraged Palestine and its allies in the UNSC to consider drafting "a more symbolic" joint statement condemning the Israeli cabinet's announcements.

The UN diplomats said Palestine has rejected the US proposal and is pushing for the draft resolution to be brought to a vote on Monday, noting that talks on the resolution are ongoing, but the text and the timing for the vote could change, as per The Times of "Israel".

The diplomats also revealed that the Israeli occupation is currently lobbying UNSC members not to back the UAE resolution, but its illegal settlements expansion policies in the occupied West Bank are facing "near-unanimous" opposition, according to the Israeli media outlet.

It is noteworthy that in December 2016, the UNSC passed a resolution against the Israeli occupation's settlements expansion, 14 out of the council's 15 members voted in favor, while the US, under then-President Barack Obama, abstained.