Israel’s ambassador to the UN dismissed the UN Security Council resolution as yet another shameful, anti-Israel decision, which will not lead to peace.
Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) Danny Danon responded harshly to the American decision not to veto the UN Security Council’s (UNSC) anti-Israel resolution, saying that “neither the Security Council nor UNESCO can sever the tie between the people of Israel and the land of Israel.”
The US allowed the UNSC to condemn Israel’s presence and construction in eastern Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria as a “flagrant violation” of international law.
Instead of casting a veto to support Israel, as is traditional US policy, US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power abstained, allowing the Council to approve the resolution in a 14-0 vote.
The anti-Israel resolution states that Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria, “occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem,” have “no legal validity.” It demands a halt to “all Israeli settlement activities,” saying this “is essential for salvaging the two-state solution.”
“It was to be expected that Israel’s greatest ally would act in accordance with the values that we share and that they would have vetoed this disgraceful resolution,” Danon said of the US’ abstention. “I have no doubt that the new US administration and the incoming UN Secretary General will usher in a new era in terms of the UN’s relationship with Israel.”
Danon addressed the UNSC, and while holding a bible in his hand, he stated that “this book holds 3,000 years of Jewish history in Israel, and no one can dictate or change that fact. This decision will join the list of shameful and anti-Israel decisions made by this organization.”
“Who gave you the right to condemn the Jewish nation for building homes in its eternal capital? Would you have dared to question the right to build in Paris? In Beijing? In London? In Washington?” he told the ambassadors present at the discussion.
“The Palestinian efforts to harm Israel through the UN will not help peace and will not advance any solutions. The Palestinians will gain nothing until they stop terror and incitement, and return direct negotiations with Israel,” Danon concluded.
