A bitter war of words has broken out between Bejamin Netanyahu and US President Barack Obama after UN Security Council adopted a resolution that called settlements in Palestinian territory occupied since 1967 a flagrant violation under international law and a major obstacle to a two-state solution and a comprehensive peace in Mid-east.
While Donald Trump said in a series of tweets to Israel "Stay strong Israel ,January 20th is fast approaching "We cannot continue to let Israel be treated with such total disdain and disrespect.
The diplomatic fight has further intensified when Secretary of State John Kerry warned that Netanyahu's settlement policy was endangering Middle East peace and threaten Israel's future as a Jewish and democratic state.
Kerry said "It is not this resolution that is isolating Israel.It is the permanent policy of settlement construction that risks making peace impossible."
On December 23,2016.the 15-member council adopted the resolution by a vote of 14 in favour with US abstaining from the vote . The resolution had been put forward by Malaysia, New Zealand , Senegal and Venezuela.
The fact of the matter is neither Obama nor previous administrations of America disagreed to the idea of the settlements because the US never recognized the annexation of east Jerusalem that's why no embassy was established uptill now.
The US did not veto the resolution as the contents is consistent with U.S. policy across Republican and Democratic administrations throughout the history of Israel.
The Jewish settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem has been constructed since 1967 as a result of the Six-Day war.But the two most controversial settlements lie in and near to Hebron, a Palestinian city that houses the burial place of Abraham, making it one of the holiest sites in both Judaism and Islam.The Palestinians claim the West Bank,along with east Jerusalem home to holy cites sacred to Jews,Muslims and Christians.
Netanyahu became furious after the adoption of resolution as it has complicate the entire situation . The Palestinians are adamant to use the resolution in a International Criminal Court to prosecute Israeli leaders ,file lawsuits on behalf of specific Palestinians displaced by settlements .The Palestinian government has urged international authorities to determine the violation of fourth Geneva convention that bans nations from the moving of populations into and the establishment of settlements in the territory of another nation won in war.
With Netanyahu's order, Israel has suspended business with the countries that voted for the measure in question-Britain , France, Russia, China, Japan, Ukraine, Angola, Egypt, Uruguay, Spain , Senegal and New Zealand .
The council also urged for intensification, and acceleration of international and regional diplomatic efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East on the basis of the relevant United Nations resolutions,the Madrid terms of reference ,including the principle of land for peace ,the Arab Peace initiative and the Quartet Roadmap and end to the Israeli occupation.
As Israeli government is expecting a favourable treatment from Donald , who will take office on January 20. Trump can introduce a new resolution at the UN that may repeal the old one.
No comments:
Post a Comment