The Palestinians asked the UN Security Council on Wednesday to demand that Israel immediately reverse plans to build more Jewish settlements, at an emergency meeting called to address tensions in east Jerusalem. The 15-nation council met for urgent talks at Jordans request after Israel announced plans on Monday to build 1,000 new settler homes in east Jerusalem, which the Palestinians consider the capital of a future state. Israel, the occupying power, must be demanded to cease immediately and completely its illegal settlement activities throughout the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem, said Palestinian ambassador Riyad Mansour. There were no plans however for a resolution and diplomats said a Security Council statement condemning Israel was unlikely given the United States reluctance to criticize Israel. Washington used its UN veto power in 2011 -- the only veto wielded by President Barack Obamas administration -- to quash a resolution condemning Israeli settlements. Speaking to the council, top UN official Jeffrey Feltman said the Israeli practice of moving settlers to Palestinian territories was in violation of international law and runs counter to a two-state solution of a Palestinian state alongside Israel. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is alarmed by the latest plans for new Israeli settlements which once again raise grave doubts about Israels commitment to achieving durable peace, Feltman told the council. Israels latest push for settlements followed weeks of skirmishes between Palestinian youths and police in east Jerusalem over fears that Israel wanted to restrict access to the al-Aqsa mosque, Islams third holiest site. Feltman called for a de-escalation of tensions, saying that sides can ill-afford to inflame tensions so soon after the devastating Gaza war, which left more than 2,000 Palestinians dead. Israels ambassador shot back, rejecting suggestions that settlement building jeopardized peace and he accused the United Nations of playing second fiddle to a Palestinian campaign to vilify his country. There are many threats in the Middle East, but the presence of Jewish homes is not one of them, Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor said.
Posted on: Wed, 29 Oct 2014 22:28:57 +0000
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