freepalestine
19th January 2011, 14:32
Report: US to oppose condemnation of settlements
Published today (updated) 19/01/2011 12:56
BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) -- The US opposes the submission of a Palestinian and Arab draft resolution condemning the expansion of settlements in the West Bank at the United Nations, the US State Dept. says.
Dept. spokesman Philip Crowley was quoted by Israel's Channel 10 as saying that the only way to establish a Palestinian state is through direct negotiations with the Israelis.
The channel's website said Crowley’s remarks came in response to a UN Security Council meeting scheduled for Wednesday to discuss a draft resolution requested by the Palestinians and the Arab group at the UN.
The spokesman has asserted that the US administration opposes bilateral steps, and so will oppose any attempt to seek recognition of independent Palestinian state through the Security Council.
Channel 10 drew a conclusion based on Crowley’s remarks that the US would veto condemnation of Israel’s settlement construction despite that the US administration has been demanding that Israel freeze that construction.
Asked to explain why the US would be opposed to the Security Council recognizing Palestinian statehood even though it was the same UN body that recognized the state of Israel in 1948, Crowley said the circumstances were different and that seeking recognition now will seriously harm the peace process.
The United States traditionally vetoes resolutions which condemn Israel, even though US President Barack Obama has spoken out strongly against Israel's settlement building projects.
"The American position has been all along that they don't want the Security Council to be involved in this issue," Palestinian ambassador Riyad Mansour told reporters.
"We tried, we are trying, we will continue to try to show that it would be very useful for the Security Council to act on this draft resolution," Mansour added.
"And we hope that the United States of American [will] not obstruct this effort at the Security Council," particularly after Israel's new move to approve another 1,400 housing units in East Jerusalem, the envoy said.
If passed, the resolution would put pressure on Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the settlements, which PLO negotiators have said pose the stumbling block to the launch of new direct talks.
Direct talks with Israel, brokered by the United States, were abandoned in September after Israel refused to extend a moratorium on settlement building. Israel says the construction should be an issue discussed in direct talks.
If the United States indicates that it will veto the resolution, Arab states may decide against calling for a vote to avoid a confrontation on the world stage, diplomats said.
Copies of the resolution were first distributed to the Security Council members on December 17 and there have been informal contacts with the major powers since then.
The other permanent members of the Security Council -- Britain, France, China and Russia -- are believed to see no reason to veto the motion, and the Palestinian mission believes 14 of the 15 nations on the council would back it now.
"The United States is the key, we need to know their intentions," said one ambassador from an Arab nation, speaking on condition of anonymity.
AFP contributed to this report.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=352429
Published today (updated) 19/01/2011 12:56
BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) -- The US opposes the submission of a Palestinian and Arab draft resolution condemning the expansion of settlements in the West Bank at the United Nations, the US State Dept. says.
Dept. spokesman Philip Crowley was quoted by Israel's Channel 10 as saying that the only way to establish a Palestinian state is through direct negotiations with the Israelis.
The channel's website said Crowley’s remarks came in response to a UN Security Council meeting scheduled for Wednesday to discuss a draft resolution requested by the Palestinians and the Arab group at the UN.
The spokesman has asserted that the US administration opposes bilateral steps, and so will oppose any attempt to seek recognition of independent Palestinian state through the Security Council.
Channel 10 drew a conclusion based on Crowley’s remarks that the US would veto condemnation of Israel’s settlement construction despite that the US administration has been demanding that Israel freeze that construction.
Asked to explain why the US would be opposed to the Security Council recognizing Palestinian statehood even though it was the same UN body that recognized the state of Israel in 1948, Crowley said the circumstances were different and that seeking recognition now will seriously harm the peace process.
The United States traditionally vetoes resolutions which condemn Israel, even though US President Barack Obama has spoken out strongly against Israel's settlement building projects.
"The American position has been all along that they don't want the Security Council to be involved in this issue," Palestinian ambassador Riyad Mansour told reporters.
"We tried, we are trying, we will continue to try to show that it would be very useful for the Security Council to act on this draft resolution," Mansour added.
"And we hope that the United States of American [will] not obstruct this effort at the Security Council," particularly after Israel's new move to approve another 1,400 housing units in East Jerusalem, the envoy said.
If passed, the resolution would put pressure on Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the settlements, which PLO negotiators have said pose the stumbling block to the launch of new direct talks.
Direct talks with Israel, brokered by the United States, were abandoned in September after Israel refused to extend a moratorium on settlement building. Israel says the construction should be an issue discussed in direct talks.
If the United States indicates that it will veto the resolution, Arab states may decide against calling for a vote to avoid a confrontation on the world stage, diplomats said.
Copies of the resolution were first distributed to the Security Council members on December 17 and there have been informal contacts with the major powers since then.
The other permanent members of the Security Council -- Britain, France, China and Russia -- are believed to see no reason to veto the motion, and the Palestinian mission believes 14 of the 15 nations on the council would back it now.
"The United States is the key, we need to know their intentions," said one ambassador from an Arab nation, speaking on condition of anonymity.
AFP contributed to this report.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=352429