US vetoes UNSC resolution on Jerusalem; Italy, “political horizon is two states solution”

NEW YORK, DECEMBER 18 – The United States cast their veto blocking an Egyptian drafted resolution which didn’t mention specifically the United States or President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize  Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, but which expressed “deep regret at recent decisions concerning the status of Jerusalem.”

The remaining 14 council members voted in favor of the resolution, increasing the sense of isolation of the United States policy for the Middle East. The document affirmed “that any decisions and actions which purport to have altered the character, status or demographic composition of the Holy City of Jerusalem have no legal effect, are null and void and must be rescinded in compliance with relevant resolutions of the Security Council.”

‘We believe that the status of Jerusalem as the future capital of two states needs to be negotiated between Israel and Palestine, within the framework of a peace process to lead to the establishment of two States, living side by side in peace and security”, the Italian Permanent Representative Sebastiano Cardi said in the explanation of vote. Cardi added that the resolution opened “a political horizon” rooted in the two-State solution and in the intensification of international and regional efforts towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East. “In this regard, we continue to see a crucial role to be played by the United States. We look forward to hearing the views of the US administration on possible proposals for an Israeli-Palestinian settlement, building on the extensive contacts and intense dialogue developed with all parties over the past year”.

US Ambassador Nikki Haley defended the veto shaming the resolution as an insult to the United Nations: “What we witnessed here today in the Security Council is an insult. It won’t be forgotten,” said Haley, describing the measure as “one more example of the United Nations doing more harm than good in addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.” (@OnuItalia)