Posted on 04/18/24
| News Source: Arutz-7
The US on Thursday vetoed a Security Council resolution to admit the Palestinian Authority as a full member state of the United Nations.
12 countries voted in favor of the resolution: Slovenia, Sierra Leone, Russia, South Korea, Mozambique, Malta, Japan, Guyana, France, Ecuador, China, and Algeria.
Two countries abstained – Britain and Switzerland.
Foreign Minister Israel Katz said following the vote, “The proposal to recognize a Palestinian state, more than 6 months after the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust and after the sexual crimes and other atrocities committed by Hamas terrorists was a reward for terrorism.”
“I commend the United States for vetoing this shameful proposal, which was rejected today at the UN Security Council. It is outrageous that even half a year after the October 7 massacre, the UN Security Council failed to condemn Hamas horrific crimes,” Katz said.
“Terrorism will not be rewarded. Israel will continue to fight until Hamas is destroyed and all 133 hostages in Gaza are released,” he concluded.
The US had announced even before the vote that it opposes the measure and would exercise its veto power against it.
Earlier, Israel's Ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, strongly criticized the Security Council for considering admitting the PA as a full member state six months after the Hamas massacre of October 7.
“The only thing that a forced, unilateral recognition of a Palestinian State will do is to make any future negotiations almost impossible. As long as the Palestinians feel that they can exploit this politicized body to their benefit, why would they bother at the negotiating table or support any compromise? The Palestinians rejected any peace plan and continue to support terrorism and boycott any negotiations. And now they know that their refusal is paying off!” he said.
Ambassador Erdan called on the Council, “Please, do not give in to politics. Do not support this dangerous resolution.”