9 dec 2018
Secretary-General of the League of Arab States Ahmed Abul Gheit said the failure of the the US-sponsored draft resolution seeking to condemn Palestinian resistance group Hamas at the United Nations General Assembly is a goal scored in favor of the Palestinians.
Speaking in a Sunday statement, Abul Gheit said the draft resolution is devoid of balance and objectivity, adding that it makes part of an attempt to pool the wool over the world’s eye as it avoids dubbing Israel an occupying power.
The 193-member UNGA voted 87-57 in favor of the US resolution Thursday while 33 members chose to abstain, leaving Washington with a plurality vote that fell short of the two-thirds requirement to adopt the resolution.
The resolution attempted to condemn Hamas for carrying out rocket attacks against Israel and using "airborne incendiary devices" against Israelis.
Speaking in a Sunday statement, Abul Gheit said the draft resolution is devoid of balance and objectivity, adding that it makes part of an attempt to pool the wool over the world’s eye as it avoids dubbing Israel an occupying power.
The 193-member UNGA voted 87-57 in favor of the US resolution Thursday while 33 members chose to abstain, leaving Washington with a plurality vote that fell short of the two-thirds requirement to adopt the resolution.
The resolution attempted to condemn Hamas for carrying out rocket attacks against Israel and using "airborne incendiary devices" against Israelis.
8 dec 2018
The world must forget its commitments to rights and justice, its obligations under international law, the Quartet’s promises to establish a “viable and independent Palestinian state”. An end must be put to the repeated condemnations directed at the Israeli occupation and its constant attacks and violations, including killing peaceful demonstrators participating in the mass protests on the outskirts of the Gaza Strip and the rampant settlement activity in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
For this reason, the Trump administration called for a vote on a carefully crafted draft resolution to divert attention away from the essence of the Palestinian cause and to try to blame the victim. It aims to overturn the agenda and mix up all the playing cards suddenly, in order to portray the problem as being the Palestinian people, not the occupation and its consequences.
The world was asked to vote in the General Assembly on 6 December to respond to a biased and essentially subjective question from the United States. They were forced to decide under intense pressure and orders, which some states were forced to comply with based on the wishes of the United States, and perhaps some were subject to light exploitation and promised political support or aid.
The draft resolution is formulating in a very misleading manner. It speaks superficially of condemning Hamas to avoid openly criticizing the Palestinian people and their overall resistance and it absolves the Israeli occupation of its fundamental responsibility for the situation.
It seems that this is an attempt by the American administration to avenge its bruised ego after the embarrassments it faced over an entire year. Its new move to vote is occurring to coincide with the first anniversary of Trump’s announcement recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and decision to move the American embassy to the city, something avoided by previous administrations. The Trump administration found itself alone after making this biased decision, as the world was asked to announce its position on the matter in a vote in January 2018. The Trump administration was shown to be internationally isolated in its decision towards Jerusalem. There was a vote yesterday in which the discussion was directed at a completely different arena: the Palestinian resistance’s response to the Israeli bombings and the launch of incendiary kites and balloons from the Gaza Strip.
The drafting of the US draft resolution was in a manner that focused attention on a specific part of its context, drawing the world into a debate outside the core issue. It was clear that many of the countries defending the Palestinians’ inalienable rights would be silenced or embarrassed by this unimaginative trick. Yesterday’s vote, however, led to a new disappointment for Trump’s administration, despite all the hard work they had put in over the past few days to win this round. This angered US Representative Nikki Haley, once again, and she stormed out of the room without voting on the Irish alternative.
In this critical round of voting, the world bypassed the US administration by requiring a two-thirds majority to approve its project. Moreover, 33 countries abstained from the vote while 57 countries voted against the resolution. Thus, the US-Israeli position was unable to pass a resolution favoring the occupation despite 87 countries backing it after an intensive mobilization campaign that, at first glance, seemed to be a guaranteed success.
The US draft resolution fell in the General Assembly vote, but we must immediately steer the international debate regarding the Palestinian cause back to its logical priorities, which have been manipulated to portray the violent occupation as the defeated victim. The American action in the General Assembly ignored all that was issued by this UN council in the past on the question of Palestine, even the decision issued in October 2003 condemning the Separation Wall built by the occupation authorities in the West Bank and calling for its demolition. However, this resolution, like the many other related resolutions, has remained ink on paper.
A few years ago, I met European diplomats who criticized the launching of “indiscriminate rockets” from the Gaza Strip, as was claimed at the time. I shared their concern about these “indiscriminate rockets” and asked them whether they believed the solution to the problem is to provide the Palestinians with very accurate weapons and ammunition and smart technologies such as those obtained by Israelis from Western countries. What happened in the American draft resolution that fell in the UN vote gives a different perception of the meaning of such criticism.
What happened in the international forum yesterday is that a major superpower, which gives its best weapons, ammunition and military expertise and technologies to an occupation government that commits war crimes, tried to lure the world into taking a stand against the people under occupation, as if they are supposed to hold flowers and sing about the beauty of life under Israeli bombing.
- Hossam Shaker is a researcher and author, and a consultant in media, public relations and mass communication for a number of organizations in Europe. He resides in Vienna and has an interest in analysis of European and international affairs, as well as social and media issues. His article appeared in MEMO.
For this reason, the Trump administration called for a vote on a carefully crafted draft resolution to divert attention away from the essence of the Palestinian cause and to try to blame the victim. It aims to overturn the agenda and mix up all the playing cards suddenly, in order to portray the problem as being the Palestinian people, not the occupation and its consequences.
The world was asked to vote in the General Assembly on 6 December to respond to a biased and essentially subjective question from the United States. They were forced to decide under intense pressure and orders, which some states were forced to comply with based on the wishes of the United States, and perhaps some were subject to light exploitation and promised political support or aid.
The draft resolution is formulating in a very misleading manner. It speaks superficially of condemning Hamas to avoid openly criticizing the Palestinian people and their overall resistance and it absolves the Israeli occupation of its fundamental responsibility for the situation.
It seems that this is an attempt by the American administration to avenge its bruised ego after the embarrassments it faced over an entire year. Its new move to vote is occurring to coincide with the first anniversary of Trump’s announcement recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and decision to move the American embassy to the city, something avoided by previous administrations. The Trump administration found itself alone after making this biased decision, as the world was asked to announce its position on the matter in a vote in January 2018. The Trump administration was shown to be internationally isolated in its decision towards Jerusalem. There was a vote yesterday in which the discussion was directed at a completely different arena: the Palestinian resistance’s response to the Israeli bombings and the launch of incendiary kites and balloons from the Gaza Strip.
The drafting of the US draft resolution was in a manner that focused attention on a specific part of its context, drawing the world into a debate outside the core issue. It was clear that many of the countries defending the Palestinians’ inalienable rights would be silenced or embarrassed by this unimaginative trick. Yesterday’s vote, however, led to a new disappointment for Trump’s administration, despite all the hard work they had put in over the past few days to win this round. This angered US Representative Nikki Haley, once again, and she stormed out of the room without voting on the Irish alternative.
In this critical round of voting, the world bypassed the US administration by requiring a two-thirds majority to approve its project. Moreover, 33 countries abstained from the vote while 57 countries voted against the resolution. Thus, the US-Israeli position was unable to pass a resolution favoring the occupation despite 87 countries backing it after an intensive mobilization campaign that, at first glance, seemed to be a guaranteed success.
The US draft resolution fell in the General Assembly vote, but we must immediately steer the international debate regarding the Palestinian cause back to its logical priorities, which have been manipulated to portray the violent occupation as the defeated victim. The American action in the General Assembly ignored all that was issued by this UN council in the past on the question of Palestine, even the decision issued in October 2003 condemning the Separation Wall built by the occupation authorities in the West Bank and calling for its demolition. However, this resolution, like the many other related resolutions, has remained ink on paper.
A few years ago, I met European diplomats who criticized the launching of “indiscriminate rockets” from the Gaza Strip, as was claimed at the time. I shared their concern about these “indiscriminate rockets” and asked them whether they believed the solution to the problem is to provide the Palestinians with very accurate weapons and ammunition and smart technologies such as those obtained by Israelis from Western countries. What happened in the American draft resolution that fell in the UN vote gives a different perception of the meaning of such criticism.
What happened in the international forum yesterday is that a major superpower, which gives its best weapons, ammunition and military expertise and technologies to an occupation government that commits war crimes, tried to lure the world into taking a stand against the people under occupation, as if they are supposed to hold flowers and sing about the beauty of life under Israeli bombing.
- Hossam Shaker is a researcher and author, and a consultant in media, public relations and mass communication for a number of organizations in Europe. He resides in Vienna and has an interest in analysis of European and international affairs, as well as social and media issues. His article appeared in MEMO.
Palestine and France signed 10 cooperation agreements, on Friday, during a visit by Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah to Paris and his meeting with his French counterpart, Edouard Philippe.
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki, along with his French counterpart, Jean-Yves Le Drian, signed 10 cooperation agreements in education, budget, local governance, civil defense, environment, water, agriculture and developing the private sector.
Meanwhile, Hamdallah attended a joint press conference with Philippe, where he thanked France for its support for Palestine and its support for the two-state solution.
Hamdallah said, "As I expressed in our discussions with Prime Minister Philippe today, we are grateful for the French positions which demonstrate strong commitments to deepen and develop our partnership and cooperation and I would like to emphasize that this is also our commitment.”
He said that the meeting of the joint French-Palestinian ministerial committee in Paris is important for promoting cooperation between their two countries and its peoples.
Hamdallah said that French support was vital for developing the Palestinian economy and strengthening government institutions through capacity building, particularly in areas such as health, education, agricultural and water, among others.
“Our meeting today in Paris is a strong demonstration of the solidarity between the French and Palestinian peoples, as well as the tremendous opportunities for cooperation between us.”
Regarding the peace process, Hamdallah appreciated French efforts to bring peace to the Middle East and called for establishing an international group to revive the deadlocked peace process.
Hamdallah added, "I would like to emphasize the utmost importance of recognizing the independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. This recognition will help save the two-state solution and give hope and optimism to our Palestinian people.”
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki, along with his French counterpart, Jean-Yves Le Drian, signed 10 cooperation agreements in education, budget, local governance, civil defense, environment, water, agriculture and developing the private sector.
Meanwhile, Hamdallah attended a joint press conference with Philippe, where he thanked France for its support for Palestine and its support for the two-state solution.
Hamdallah said, "As I expressed in our discussions with Prime Minister Philippe today, we are grateful for the French positions which demonstrate strong commitments to deepen and develop our partnership and cooperation and I would like to emphasize that this is also our commitment.”
He said that the meeting of the joint French-Palestinian ministerial committee in Paris is important for promoting cooperation between their two countries and its peoples.
Hamdallah said that French support was vital for developing the Palestinian economy and strengthening government institutions through capacity building, particularly in areas such as health, education, agricultural and water, among others.
“Our meeting today in Paris is a strong demonstration of the solidarity between the French and Palestinian peoples, as well as the tremendous opportunities for cooperation between us.”
Regarding the peace process, Hamdallah appreciated French efforts to bring peace to the Middle East and called for establishing an international group to revive the deadlocked peace process.
Hamdallah added, "I would like to emphasize the utmost importance of recognizing the independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. This recognition will help save the two-state solution and give hope and optimism to our Palestinian people.”
7 dec 2018
The Hamas Movement has expressed its appreciation to all the countries that opposed on Thursday the US-drafted resolution on the Palestinian resistance at the UN General Assembly and defended the justice of the Palestinian cause.
In a statement, Hamas stressed that the real terrorism that must be confronted and condemned by all countries is Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian land.
The Palestinian resistance movement called for condemning Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian land, its displacement of millions of Palestinians from their areas and homes, the massacres and crimes it had committed against them, its Judaization activities in Jerusalem, its construction of settlements, and its refusal to allow Palestinian refugees to return to their homes.
Hamas also urged the countries that voted for the US draft resolution at the General Assembly to reconsider their positions and correct what it described as “the historic and dangerous mistake against the oppressed Palestinian people.”
In a statement, Hamas stressed that the real terrorism that must be confronted and condemned by all countries is Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian land.
The Palestinian resistance movement called for condemning Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian land, its displacement of millions of Palestinians from their areas and homes, the massacres and crimes it had committed against them, its Judaization activities in Jerusalem, its construction of settlements, and its refusal to allow Palestinian refugees to return to their homes.
Hamas also urged the countries that voted for the US draft resolution at the General Assembly to reconsider their positions and correct what it described as “the historic and dangerous mistake against the oppressed Palestinian people.”
The UN General Assembly voted in favor of a resolution calling to end the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, current President of the UN General Assembly Maria Espinosa said in a statement.
The Comprehensive, Just and Lasting Peace in the Middle East resolution sponsored by Ireland urges to end the occupation of Palestinian territories by the state of Israel and reaffirms its support for the two-state solution.
The United States and Israel voted against the resolution in addition to Australia, Liberia, Marshall Islands, and Nauru.
Since 1967, Israel has been occupying Palestinian territories and refusing to recognize Palestine as an independent political and diplomatic state.
Through a recorded vote of 156 in favor to 6 against (Australia, Israel, Liberia, Marshall Islands, Nauru, United States), with 12 abstentions, the Assembly adopted a draft resolution titled “Comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East” (document A/73/L.49).
“Such a peace, unfortunately, is not currently in sight,” said Ireland’s representative while introducing the text. Stressing the importance of reversing the current negative developments on the ground, she added that a settlement of the conflict must meet Palestinian aspirations for statehood and sovereignty, as well as resolve all final status issues.
The General Assembly decided to reiterate its call for the achievement of just and lasting peace in the Middle East while also failing to adopt a text condemning Hamas resistance group in Gaza.
Speaking on behalf of the Arab Group, the representative of Kuwait called on all States to reject the US-drafted text condemning the Palestinian resistance as it “distracts from the deep seated causes of the conflict”.
UN General Assembly Adopts Another Pro-Palestine Resolution
After rejecting the US-backed anti-Palestinian resistance resolution, the General Assembly voted, on Thursday night, in favor of another text dealing with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The brief resolution, proposed by Ireland, called for “the achievement, without delay, of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East on the basis of the relevant United Nations resolutions,” including Resolution 2334.
It also demanded, according to Days of Palestine, “an end to the Israeli occupation” and reaffirmed the assembly’s “unwavering support… for the two-State solution of Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security within recognized borders, based on the pre-1967 borders.
The Comprehensive, Just and Lasting Peace in the Middle East resolution sponsored by Ireland urges to end the occupation of Palestinian territories by the state of Israel and reaffirms its support for the two-state solution.
The United States and Israel voted against the resolution in addition to Australia, Liberia, Marshall Islands, and Nauru.
Since 1967, Israel has been occupying Palestinian territories and refusing to recognize Palestine as an independent political and diplomatic state.
Through a recorded vote of 156 in favor to 6 against (Australia, Israel, Liberia, Marshall Islands, Nauru, United States), with 12 abstentions, the Assembly adopted a draft resolution titled “Comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East” (document A/73/L.49).
“Such a peace, unfortunately, is not currently in sight,” said Ireland’s representative while introducing the text. Stressing the importance of reversing the current negative developments on the ground, she added that a settlement of the conflict must meet Palestinian aspirations for statehood and sovereignty, as well as resolve all final status issues.
The General Assembly decided to reiterate its call for the achievement of just and lasting peace in the Middle East while also failing to adopt a text condemning Hamas resistance group in Gaza.
Speaking on behalf of the Arab Group, the representative of Kuwait called on all States to reject the US-drafted text condemning the Palestinian resistance as it “distracts from the deep seated causes of the conflict”.
UN General Assembly Adopts Another Pro-Palestine Resolution
After rejecting the US-backed anti-Palestinian resistance resolution, the General Assembly voted, on Thursday night, in favor of another text dealing with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The brief resolution, proposed by Ireland, called for “the achievement, without delay, of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East on the basis of the relevant United Nations resolutions,” including Resolution 2334.
It also demanded, according to Days of Palestine, “an end to the Israeli occupation” and reaffirmed the assembly’s “unwavering support… for the two-State solution of Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security within recognized borders, based on the pre-1967 borders.
The Palestinian resistance factions hailed the world states who have voted against the US-sponsored draft resolution seeking to condemn Palestinian resistance group Hamas at the United Nations General Assembly.
Hamas leader Sami Abu Zuhri said the fact that the draft resolution has failed to gain a majority vote at UNGA is a slap on the US and Israel’s face and a confirmation of the legitimacy of anti-occupation resistance.
Islamic Jihad leader Daud Shehab said the results of the UNGA vote represent a heavy blow dealt to the US and Israel and their counterfeit narratives.
Fatah spokesperson Muneer al-Jaghoub said the US attempts to criminalize Palestinians’ national liberation struggle have been abortive. “The only terrorist party is Israel.”
Political bureau member of the Palestinian People’s Party, Walid al-Awad, said the US failure to condemn Hamas as a terror group is an indication of the universal support to the Palestinian cause.
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the Mujahideen Movement in Palestine, along with other resistance factions, also lauded the move, which they dubbed another goal scored by the Palestinian resistance.
The 193-member UNGA voted 87-57 in favor of the US resolution Thursday while 33 members chose to abstain, leaving Washington with a plurality vote that fell short of the two-thirds requirement to adopt the resolution.
The resolution attempted to condemn Hamas for carrying out rocket attacks against Israel and using "airborne incendiary devices" against Israelis living in occupied Palestinian lands.
The resolution came weeks after the Israeli military fired hundreds of rockets into Israel during a two-day flare-up of violence following a botched Israeli attack against a Palestinian anti-occupation commander.
Hamas leader Sami Abu Zuhri said the fact that the draft resolution has failed to gain a majority vote at UNGA is a slap on the US and Israel’s face and a confirmation of the legitimacy of anti-occupation resistance.
Islamic Jihad leader Daud Shehab said the results of the UNGA vote represent a heavy blow dealt to the US and Israel and their counterfeit narratives.
Fatah spokesperson Muneer al-Jaghoub said the US attempts to criminalize Palestinians’ national liberation struggle have been abortive. “The only terrorist party is Israel.”
Political bureau member of the Palestinian People’s Party, Walid al-Awad, said the US failure to condemn Hamas as a terror group is an indication of the universal support to the Palestinian cause.
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the Mujahideen Movement in Palestine, along with other resistance factions, also lauded the move, which they dubbed another goal scored by the Palestinian resistance.
The 193-member UNGA voted 87-57 in favor of the US resolution Thursday while 33 members chose to abstain, leaving Washington with a plurality vote that fell short of the two-thirds requirement to adopt the resolution.
The resolution attempted to condemn Hamas for carrying out rocket attacks against Israel and using "airborne incendiary devices" against Israelis living in occupied Palestinian lands.
The resolution came weeks after the Israeli military fired hundreds of rockets into Israel during a two-day flare-up of violence following a botched Israeli attack against a Palestinian anti-occupation commander.
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A US-sponsored draft resolution seeking to condemn Palestinian resistance group Hamas at the United Nations General Assembly has failed to gain a majority vote on Thursday.
The 193-member UNGA voted 87-57 in favor of the resolution Thursday while 33 members chose to abstain, leaving Washington with a plurality vote that fell short of the two-thirds requirement to adopt the resolution. The US had originally called for a simple majority vote, but the world body opted for a two-third majority instead after a narrow 75-72 vote, with 26 abstentions. The resolution attempted to condemn Hamas for carrying out rocket attacks against Israel and using "airborne incendiary devices" against Israelis living in occupied Palestinian lands. The resolution came weeks after the Israeli military fired hundreds of rockets into Israel during a two-day flare-up of violence following a botched Israeli attack against a Palestinian anti-occupation commander. US Ambassador Nikki Haley said before the vote that the assembly could make history condemning Hamas, which she referred to as "one of the most obvious and grotesque cases of terrorism in the world." “The General Assembly has passed over 700 resolutions condemning Israel. And not one single resolution condemning Hamas. That, more than anything else, is a condemnation of the United Nations itself,” she claimed. China and Russia were among those voting the measure down. India abstained despite having recently forged warmer ties with the Tel Aviv regime. |
After the US draft’s failure, the UNGA voted 156-6 to adopt an Irish resolution that called for "the achievement, without delay, of a comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East" on the basis of UN resolutions, specially the December 2016 measure.
The resolution also reaffirmed "unwavering support” for a two-state solution along “the pre-1967 borders."
Tel Aviv tried to undermine the defeat, with Israel’s UN envoy Danny Danon saying that a majority vote was within reach had the vote “not been hijacked by a political move of procedure.”
Following the vote, Hamas hailed the failure of the resolution as a “slap” to US President Donald Trump’s administration.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas also commended the outcome.
“The presidency thanked all the states that voted against the American draft resolution, affirming that it will not allow for the condemnation of the Palestinian national struggle,” the PA’s office said in a statement.
The resolution also reaffirmed "unwavering support” for a two-state solution along “the pre-1967 borders."
Tel Aviv tried to undermine the defeat, with Israel’s UN envoy Danny Danon saying that a majority vote was within reach had the vote “not been hijacked by a political move of procedure.”
Following the vote, Hamas hailed the failure of the resolution as a “slap” to US President Donald Trump’s administration.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas also commended the outcome.
“The presidency thanked all the states that voted against the American draft resolution, affirming that it will not allow for the condemnation of the Palestinian national struggle,” the PA’s office said in a statement.
