US vetoes UNSC text condemning Israeli settlement activities
By KUNA
The Security Council late Friday failed to adopt an Arab draft resolution that would condemn the continuation of Israeli settlement activities in the Palestinian occupied land because of a US veto, the first under the Obama Administration and the tenth in 11 years on the Middle East.
The vote was 14 in favour to one against, US, a Council permanent member with veto power.
The daft resolution, sponsored by some 125 member states, would have reaffirmed that the Israeli settlements established in the occupied land since 1967, including East Jerusalem, are “illegal and constitute a major obstacle to the achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace”.
It would have reiterated its “demand that Israel immediately and completely cease all settlement activities” and that it “fully respect” all of its legal obligations in this regard.
It would have called upon all parties to continue, in the interest of the promotion of peace and security, with their negotiations on the final status issues in according to the agreed terms of reference and within the time frame set by the Quartet for September 2011.
It would have finally urged the intensification of international and regional diplomatic efforts to support and invigorate the peace process towards the achievement of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East.
After days of talks with the US, the Arab group finally decided on Friday to push for a vote on its draft resolution despite a last-minute proposal by the Council President – Brazil – to have the body issue instead a Presidential statement that would “urge” Israel to freeze all settlement activities, including national growth and dismantle settlements built since 2001.
The Brazilian draft statement, originally American but improved, would have the Council reiterate its previous resolutions, including 242 of 1967 and 338 of 1973 and its full commitment to the Quartet statements which state that the negotiations must lead to an agreement that puts an end to the occupation that began in 1967.
