for the UN, the legalization of nine Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank is an “obstructing” peace

The UN Security Council denounced in a statement on Monday, February 20, the legalization of nine Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. He considers it to be a “hinder” to peace.

>> “The day Benyamin Netanyahu accepts the two-state solution, we will be there to make peace”, assures the ambassador of Palestine in France

“Israel’s continued settlement activities jeopardize the viability of the two-state solution,” considers the Council in this statement by the presidency, supported by all 15 members, including France. The Council expresses “his deep concern and dismay” regarding the Israeli announcement of the legalization of the nine settlements and the construction of new housing in the existing settlements.

This declaration “denies the right of Jews to live in their historic homeland, ignoring the Palestinian terrorist attacks in Jerusalem”, responded the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to the latter, “the United States should never have rallied” to this text.

A motion for a resolution withdrawn

The United Arab Emirates had circulated among the member States of the Council a draft resolution condemning “all attempts at annexation, including Israeli decisions and actions regarding settlements” and calling “upon their immediate withdrawal”. The text also demanded that Israel cease “immediately and completely its settlement activities in the occupied territories, including East Jerusalem”.

The initiative had provoked the discontent of the United States, which has the right of veto in the Council. The State Department had thus denounced a resolution “of little use in terms of the support needed for the negotiations on the two-state solution”. Washington had however at the same time denounced the Israeli announcement on the nine colonies. The draft resolution was withdrawn after discussions including between Palestinians and Americans, said a diplomatic source.