UN cancels vote against Israeli settlements
US reportedly pressured the PA to withdraw its support for a UN resolution
The United Nations Security Council reportedly canceled the vote on a resolution that condemns Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, known as the West Bank.
The decision followed the United Arab Emirates pulling the text and instead seeking a less controversial statement of consensus that would be acceptable to the United States. As a permanent Security Council member, the U.S. has veto power over any resolution and can block any presidential statement.
“Given the positive talks between the parties, we are now working on a draft PRST (presidential statement) which would garner consensus, the UAE wrote in an official note to the Security Council on Sunday.
“Accordingly, there will not be a vote on the draft resolution on Monday. Much of the language of the PRST will be drawn from the draft resolution,” the note stated.
While the Biden administration opposes Israeli settlement activity in the disputed territories, it is reluctant to allow the UNSC to pass new anti-Israel resolutions, with the United States remaining Israel’s closest ally. Reportedly, Washington successfully pressured the Palestinian Authority to withdraw its support for a UN resolution that called for an immediate halt to Israeli settlement expansion or residential growth.
To appease Ramallah, the Biden administration reportedly convinced Jerusalem to postpone any new Israeli construction in the disputed territories, land acquired by Israel during the Six-Day War in 1967.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke on Sunday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reportedly stress U.S. support “for a negotiated two-state solution and opposition to policies that endanger its viability.”
This diplomatic language apparently refers both to Israeli residential growth, as well as Arab terrorism targeting Israelis.
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.