freepalestine
1st January 2011, 13:17
US prefers negotiation to Palestinian UN drive
Published today 13:33
http://www.revleft.com/vb/images/ViewDetails/Eng-1.jpg http://www.revleft.com/vb/images/ViewDetails/Eng+1.jpg
President Mahmoud Abbas addresses the UN General Assembly in New York
on September 25, 2010. [Maanimages/Thaer Ganaim, Pool]
WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States reacted Friday to a Palestinian and Arab draft resolution set to go to the United Nations urging Israel to halt Jewish settlements, saying only that it preferred negotiations.
"On the Middle East, our view remains unchanged. The only viable path is through a negotiated agreement that resolves the core issues and ends the conflict," said State Department spokesman Philip Crowley.
A senior Palestinian official said Thursday that the UN Security Council would receive in the coming days a draft Palestinian and Arab resolution calling for the new settlements halt.
Following a breakdown of direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians over settlements, the Arab League said on December 15 it would seek a Security Council resolution against Israel, ordering a halt to Jewish settlements.
It also called on the United States, which has vetoed resolutions against Israel in the past, not to obstruct such a move.
The draft resolution is due to come before the United Nations in January, when Bosnia takes the rotating presidency of the Security Council from the United States.
It will test whether the United States is willing to use its veto in support of Israel which is concerned over the Palestinian strategy. Israel has reportedly ordered its own diplomats to mount a counter-offensive.
If the Palestinians lose this battle, they are considering calling for their territories to be placed under international administration.
Direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians launched on September 2 were suspended three weeks later after an Israeli moratorium on settlement building expired and Israel refused to renew it.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=347151
Published today 13:33
http://www.revleft.com/vb/images/ViewDetails/Eng-1.jpg http://www.revleft.com/vb/images/ViewDetails/Eng+1.jpg
President Mahmoud Abbas addresses the UN General Assembly in New York
on September 25, 2010. [Maanimages/Thaer Ganaim, Pool]
WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States reacted Friday to a Palestinian and Arab draft resolution set to go to the United Nations urging Israel to halt Jewish settlements, saying only that it preferred negotiations.
"On the Middle East, our view remains unchanged. The only viable path is through a negotiated agreement that resolves the core issues and ends the conflict," said State Department spokesman Philip Crowley.
A senior Palestinian official said Thursday that the UN Security Council would receive in the coming days a draft Palestinian and Arab resolution calling for the new settlements halt.
Following a breakdown of direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians over settlements, the Arab League said on December 15 it would seek a Security Council resolution against Israel, ordering a halt to Jewish settlements.
It also called on the United States, which has vetoed resolutions against Israel in the past, not to obstruct such a move.
The draft resolution is due to come before the United Nations in January, when Bosnia takes the rotating presidency of the Security Council from the United States.
It will test whether the United States is willing to use its veto in support of Israel which is concerned over the Palestinian strategy. Israel has reportedly ordered its own diplomats to mount a counter-offensive.
If the Palestinians lose this battle, they are considering calling for their territories to be placed under international administration.
Direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians launched on September 2 were suspended three weeks later after an Israeli moratorium on settlement building expired and Israel refused to renew it.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=347151