Middle East: France submits draft resolution to UN Security Council – “No” from US

The US mission to the United Nations announced yesterday that Washington “will not support” actions that “we believe undermine efforts to de-escalate” violence. between Israel and the Palestinians, Asked yesterday (Wednesday) about the draft Security Council resolution drawn up by France.

The French delegation distributed the text to the other 14 members of the Security Council earlier yesterday.

The text demands an immediate termination of hostilities, while condemning the “launching of missiles indiscriminately against areas where civilians live”, without mentioning by name on one side or the other. It calls for the protection of civilians and the resumption of the Middle East peace process on the basis of the two states.

The Palestinians envision the acquisition of an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip with East Jerusalem as its capital, a territory occupied by Israel in 1967.

The French Foreign Minister stated, as broadcast by AMPE, that he hopes the 15-member Security Council will hold a vote as soon as possible. In order for any decision to be adopted, it needs to secure nine votes and not be vetoed by any of the five permanent member states (USA, Russia, China, France, Britain).

The United States has traditionally protected Israel, a close ally in the UN. US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told her counterparts on Tuesday that a “public stance at the moment” by the SA would not help escalate the conflict.

A spokesman for the US delegation answered a question about the French initiative saying that Washington’s position had not changed.

“We have made it clear and consistent that we are focusing on intensive diplomatic efforts that are under way to end the violence and will not support actions that we believe would undermine de-escalation efforts.”

The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was determined to continue the operation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip despite US President Joe Biden urging him to seek “de-escalation” after 10 days of bloody hostilities.

French diplomats, who explained that it was decided to table the draft resolution after the US opposition to the publication of even one Security Council statement, believe that if it bears fruit it will increase the pressure on the parties.

The view agrees with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. “We believe that the united, strong voice of the Council has weight, not only in this crisis, but also in other armed conflicts,” a spokesman for the Secretary-General explained.

You may also like