Pak Sahafat – On Monday local time, the United Nations Security Council condemned the Zionist regime’s plan to expand settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories by issuing an official statement. An action that took place after 6 years from the last resolution of this council, and America also appeared in the role of opposing its long-time ally.
The last time, in December 2016, the administration of the President of the United States, Barack Obama, voted against a resolution in the Security Council that asked the Zionist regime to stop settlement construction.
Washington’s support for the statement, which the 15 members of the UN Security Council unanimously agreed to, came after the United Arab Emirates announced that it would not put a stronger draft resolution on the issue to a vote; A move that could have been vetoed by the United States.
While the Abu Dhabi government had prepared a draft resolution to stop Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank with the cooperation of the Palestinians, it announced that it will not submit a request for a vote on the resolution against Tel Aviv.
In the draft statement presented by the UAE, it was emphasized the need to “completely and immediately stop all Israeli settlement activities in the occupied territories of the Palestinians”, which was removed from the US veto due to concern.
On Monday local time, the United Nations Security Council expressed “deep concern and dissatisfaction” with the Zionist regime’s plan to build more settlements and expand settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The UN Security Council said in a statement that was agreed upon by consensus: The Security Council reiterates that the continuation of Israeli settlement activities dangerously threatens the two-state solution based on the 1967 resolutions.
The United Nations called for maintaining peace in the occupied territories
The UN special coordinator in the Middle East peace process called for the reduction of tension in the occupied territories, especially around the holy places, and to maintain peace in view of the approach of the holy month of Ramadan.
Tor Vansland, the UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, warned without condemning the crimes of the Zionist regime regarding the increase in violence between Palestine and this regime, including some of the deadliest incidents in the last twenty years.
He said that unilateral actions will further distance the parties and intensify tensions and cause the conflict to continue.
Vansland reiterated that the perpetrators of all violence must be held accountable and brought to justice swiftly.
He continued that the security forces should exercise maximum restraint and use lethal force only when there is no other way to save lives.
Ibn Maqam said that as the holy month of Ramadan approaches and it coincides with the Passover and Easter holidays, joint efforts are needed to ensure that peace is maintained during this period.
He reiterated the UN Secretary General’s request to all parties to avoid actions that could escalate tensions in and around the holy places and said that everyone should maintain the status quo in line with Jordan’s special role.
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America’s strong opposition to the settlements of the Zionist regime
Linda Thomas Greenfield, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations, stated that Washington strongly opposes the announcement of the Israeli regime to build thousands of houses and settlements.
US ambassador and representative Linda Thomas Greenfield said on Monday local time at the Security Council meeting, supporting the crimes of the Zionist regime: the intentional targeting of innocent civilians is cruelty. America supports Israel’s right to defend itself. We call on all parties to take action to restore and maintain peace.
This American official added: We strongly oppose Israel’s announcement to build thousands of houses and settlements. We strongly disagree with Israel’s announcement that it has begun the process of legalizing nine police stations in the West Bank that were previously illegal under Israeli law.
She clarified: these unilateral measures intensify tensions. These actions harm the trust between the parties and weaken the prospect of a two-state solution. America does not support these measures.
Greenfield continued: Therefore, we ask all parties to work to create the necessary conditions for direct negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Direct negotiation is the only way for a stable end to the conflict and a two-state solution.
Britain demanded the cancellation of settlements by the Zionist regime
The British ambassador and representative in the United Nations also called the settlement building of the Zionist regime contrary to international laws and weakening the prospect of peace, and asked this regime to cancel these decisions.
Barbara Wood Ward, British ambassador and representative to the United Nations, said on Monday local time at the Security Council meeting: The statement of the Security Council specifies the commitment of the international community to the two-state solution based on the resolutions of 1967 and calls for the cessation of Israeli settlement activities and terrorism.
The British representative said that since the beginning of this year, 44 Palestinians, including 11 children, have been killed by Israeli security forces and added: Israel must exercise maximum restraint in the use of arms, and the Palestinian Authority must immediately resume full security cooperation and end and confront terrorism.
The British representative in the United Nations stated: Settlements and outposts are not only contrary to international laws, but also undermine the prospect of peace. Britain wants Israel to cancel these decisions.
Russia, China and the UAE also supported Palestine
In the meeting of the UN Security Council on the issue of illegal Israeli settlements, Dimiry Polyansky, the deputy representative of Russia in the United Nations, pointed out the renewed concern about the level of violence and human rights violations in the absence of a sustainable peace process, and from “legal annexation”, attacks to Syria and other provocative actions taken by Israel recently.
The representative of Russia also considered the United States to be the main obstacle to prevent foreign efforts to support the Middle East peace process and clarified: solving the Palestinian issue is the key to regional peace.
Zhang Jun, China’s ambassador and representative to the United Nations, also pointed out Israel’s “increasing actions” that push regional stability “to the brink.”
The representative of the UAE also said in the Security Council meeting that Monday’s statement by the Security Council is the first consensus of this council in the last six years and asked all members not to accept “destruction” as a stable situation.
The old wound of Palestine in the New Year and the oppression of the Zionist regime
In this meeting, the ambassador and representative of Palestine said about the “old wound in the new year” that it represents “failure” and no one should face it. He said we are approaching a point of no return and therefore every action we take now, every word we speak, is “important”.
The representative of Palestine asked the UN Security Council to “not be indifferent” to Palestine. He said that despite a long period of violence, the suffering of Palestinians is different every time. He also criticized the Zionist regime’s “new old measures” in the New Year.
The Palestinian ambassador praised the “resistance” of the Palestinians and those who “hold their heads high with pride” and emphasized: Everyone deserves to live in freedom, not occupation.
As usual, the representative of the Zionist regime claimed “provocative actions by Palestine” and claimed that Palestine is acting for “martyrdom” without referring to the crimes of this regime.
The representative of this regime claimed the system of “paying money for murder” by the Palestinians and it condemned it.
While the hands of the Zionist regime are stained with the blood of the Palestinians, Goliad Erdan claimed that there is “undeniable evidence” of Palestinian aggression against the Israelis, which makes reconciliation practically impossible, and the Security Council should stop the “celebration of murder” by the Palestinians.
At the same time, a number of members of the international Jewish organization “Naturi Carta”, which is a group of anti-Zionist Jews in New York, appeared in front of the United Nations in opposition to the Zionist regime, and demanded the liberation of the occupied territories, especially Quds Sharif, from the clutches of the Zionists.
“Mahmoud Abbas” added in a speech at the “Quds Conference” held at the headquarters of the Arab League in Cairo on February 23 that he will ask the United Nations and the Security Council to grant Palestine full membership in this organization.
He emphasized that in the coming days he will submit his request for full membership of Palestine in the United Nations and the issuance of a resolution in support of the so-called “two-state” solution.
The head of the self-governing organization added that the UN resolution should emphasize the cessation of unilateral actions and, above all, the settlements of the invaders, which are completely illegal and illegitimate.
Mahmoud Abbas added: This resolution should also emphasize adherence to signed agreements and international treaties and the invitation to hold an international peace conference.
He also said that the right of the Palestinian government to protect the legitimate rights of the Palestinian nation is reserved and this government will continue its pursuits in international courts and organizations.