UN Security Council Holds Special Session on U.S. Recognition of Jerusalem
The Israeli and American UN delegations made efforts to thwart any significant statement or decision by the world body
Noa Landau Dec 08, 2017 6:28 PM
Haaratz
The UN Security Council is holding a special meeting on Friday on America’s unilateral recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
The session is held at the request of eight member states: Britain, France, Egypt, Italy, Sweden, Uruguay, Bolivia and Senegal. Russia is also expected to denounce U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision.
UN chief António Guterres is not in attendance. The UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, Nickolay Mladenov, delivered remarks via video conference.
Mladenov said that "of all the final status issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as identified in the Oslo Accords — refugees, settlements, security, borders, etc — the status of Jerusalem is perhaps the most emotionally charged and difficult issue."
Mladenov expressed concern about violent escalation in the region, noting clashes in the West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem that unfolded after Trump's announcement. He urged political, religious and community leaders to refrain from rhetoric that might encourage further escalation. "It will be ordinary Israelis and Palestinians who will have to live with the violence," he said.
He said it's up to Israeli and Palestinian leaders, with the international community's support, to reach an agreement that would end the occupation.
"There is no plan B for the two state-solution," he said, with Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the Palestinians.
Efforts to thwart Security Council statement
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with Trump three times before the president’s announcement on Jerusalem. In those conversations, he stressed the decision’s historic importance and promised explicitly that the status quo in the city would be maintained.
The Israeli and American UN delegations made joint efforts to thwart any significant statement or decision by the Security Council.
Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon is expected to stress in his speech that Israel will maintain the status quo and freedom of worship for all faiths in Jerusalem.
Last December, the UN Security Council passed a resolution stating that it “will not recognize any changes to the 4 June 1967 lines, including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties through negotiations.” The resolution, which infuriated Jerusalem, passed by a vote of 14-0, with America, then under President Barack Obama, abstaining. The Israeli delegation expects opponents of Trump’s decision to raise that resolution on Friday, along with Resolution 478 from 1980, which said the council wouldn’t recognize Israel’s unilateral annexation of East Jerusalem and urged all countries not to station their embassies in Jerusalem.
On Wednesday, in response to Trump’s announcement, Guterres said: “From day one as secretary-general of the United Nations, I have consistently spoken out against any unilateral measures that would jeopardize the prospect of peace for Israelis and Palestinians ... In this moment of great anxiety, I want to make it clear: There is no alternative to the two-state solution. There is no Plan B ... I will do everything in my power to support the Israeli and Palestinian leaders to return to meaningful negotiations and to realize this vision of a lasting peace for both people.”
Netanyahu, speaking at a Foreign Ministry conference Thursday morning, said Israel is in contact with other countries about recognizing Jerusalem, “and I have no doubt that the moment the American Embassy moves to Jerusalem, and even before, many more embassies will move to Jerusalem.”
But so far, only Rodrigo Duterte, president of the Philippines, has expressed interest in moving his country’s embassy. The Czech president voiced support for Trump’s announcement, but the Czech Foreign Ministry stressed that it recognizes only western Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
The Foreign Ministry is now trying to persuade countries in Latin America, Asia and Africa to follow in Trump’s footsteps.
In his remarks at the Foreign Ministry, Netanyahu said Wednesday was a “monumental” day. “We were all moved to hear President Trump’s historic statement, the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, and this statement is – of course – based on ancient right.”
Reuters reported on Thursday that America asked Israel to restrain its response to Trump’s announcement, since according to an official State Department document, Washington anticipates a harsh reaction to the move that may include threats to its offices and representatives overseas. Israel accepted this request, and Netanyahu therefore ordered cabinet ministers not to speak about the issue.
One senior minister said that even after Trump’s speech, ministers were asked “not to turn up the volume too much” in their reactions.
read more: https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/.premium-1.827766
Noa Landau Dec 08, 2017 6:28 PM
Haaratz
The UN Security Council is holding a special meeting on Friday on America’s unilateral recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
The session is held at the request of eight member states: Britain, France, Egypt, Italy, Sweden, Uruguay, Bolivia and Senegal. Russia is also expected to denounce U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision.
UN chief António Guterres is not in attendance. The UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, Nickolay Mladenov, delivered remarks via video conference.
Mladenov said that "of all the final status issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as identified in the Oslo Accords — refugees, settlements, security, borders, etc — the status of Jerusalem is perhaps the most emotionally charged and difficult issue."
Mladenov expressed concern about violent escalation in the region, noting clashes in the West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem that unfolded after Trump's announcement. He urged political, religious and community leaders to refrain from rhetoric that might encourage further escalation. "It will be ordinary Israelis and Palestinians who will have to live with the violence," he said.
He said it's up to Israeli and Palestinian leaders, with the international community's support, to reach an agreement that would end the occupation.
"There is no plan B for the two state-solution," he said, with Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the Palestinians.
Efforts to thwart Security Council statement
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with Trump three times before the president’s announcement on Jerusalem. In those conversations, he stressed the decision’s historic importance and promised explicitly that the status quo in the city would be maintained.
The Israeli and American UN delegations made joint efforts to thwart any significant statement or decision by the Security Council.
Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon is expected to stress in his speech that Israel will maintain the status quo and freedom of worship for all faiths in Jerusalem.
Last December, the UN Security Council passed a resolution stating that it “will not recognize any changes to the 4 June 1967 lines, including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties through negotiations.” The resolution, which infuriated Jerusalem, passed by a vote of 14-0, with America, then under President Barack Obama, abstaining. The Israeli delegation expects opponents of Trump’s decision to raise that resolution on Friday, along with Resolution 478 from 1980, which said the council wouldn’t recognize Israel’s unilateral annexation of East Jerusalem and urged all countries not to station their embassies in Jerusalem.
On Wednesday, in response to Trump’s announcement, Guterres said: “From day one as secretary-general of the United Nations, I have consistently spoken out against any unilateral measures that would jeopardize the prospect of peace for Israelis and Palestinians ... In this moment of great anxiety, I want to make it clear: There is no alternative to the two-state solution. There is no Plan B ... I will do everything in my power to support the Israeli and Palestinian leaders to return to meaningful negotiations and to realize this vision of a lasting peace for both people.”
Netanyahu, speaking at a Foreign Ministry conference Thursday morning, said Israel is in contact with other countries about recognizing Jerusalem, “and I have no doubt that the moment the American Embassy moves to Jerusalem, and even before, many more embassies will move to Jerusalem.”
But so far, only Rodrigo Duterte, president of the Philippines, has expressed interest in moving his country’s embassy. The Czech president voiced support for Trump’s announcement, but the Czech Foreign Ministry stressed that it recognizes only western Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
The Foreign Ministry is now trying to persuade countries in Latin America, Asia and Africa to follow in Trump’s footsteps.
In his remarks at the Foreign Ministry, Netanyahu said Wednesday was a “monumental” day. “We were all moved to hear President Trump’s historic statement, the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, and this statement is – of course – based on ancient right.”
Reuters reported on Thursday that America asked Israel to restrain its response to Trump’s announcement, since according to an official State Department document, Washington anticipates a harsh reaction to the move that may include threats to its offices and representatives overseas. Israel accepted this request, and Netanyahu therefore ordered cabinet ministers not to speak about the issue.
One senior minister said that even after Trump’s speech, ministers were asked “not to turn up the volume too much” in their reactions.
read more: https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/.premium-1.827766
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