Palestine UN vote rejected

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas (Pic: World Economic Forum)

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A UN Security Council motion calling for an end to Israel’s illegal occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem was rejected last month.

The motion demanded that Israel end its occupation and withdraw its forces from the occupied territories by the end of 2017.

It also called for a “sustainable solution to the situation in the Gaza Strip.”

To be approved, the motion needed the backing of at least nine states on the 15-member council.

But at a meeting on 30 December, only eight members voted in favour and the US and Australia voted against.

Five states, including Britain, abstained.

The strength of the vote in favour shows how Israel is becoming increasingly isolated.

And the Palestinian Authority is now hoping to use the International Criminal Court to prosecute Israel for war crimes. But Palestinians can’t rely on the UN. 

Even if the motion had passed, the US would have used its veto to stop it going through.