[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]US Ambassador criticize UN for bullying Israel
The latest move of President Donald Trump of recognizing Jerusalem as Israeli capital and decision to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to the city has virtually isolated US at the UN Security Council meeting on Friday.
Washington’s traditional allies, Including Britain, France, Germany, Sweden and Italy, issued a joint statement denouncing Trump’s decision as “unhelpful in terms of prospects for peace in the region.”
The statement said, “We stand ready to contribute to all credible efforts to restart the peace process, on the basis of internationally agreed parameters, leading to a two-state solution.” These countries demanded details of the US proposals for an Israel-Palestine settlement.
The UN Security Council convened emergency meeting on Friday regarding the Palestine following a request from Britain, France, Sweden, Bolivia, Uruguay, Italy, Senegal and Egypt.
The Middle East UN envoy Nickolay Maldenov had warned Security Council saying, “There is a serious risk today that we may see a chain of unilateral actions, which can only push us further away from achieving our shared goal of peace.”
The US response was very different then its earlier projected face of being “mediator” in the peace process. US Ambassador to UN Nikki Haley accused UNSC of undermining peace prospects by “bullying” Israel. She was quoted saying, “Israel will never be, and should never be, bullied into an agreement by the United Nations, or by any collection of countries that have proven their disregard for Israel’s security.”
However, she clarified that US has not adopted any stance on the boundaries of Jerusalem and it is not advocating any changes to the “arrangements” at the holy site.
Meanwhile, amidst huge anti-Israel protests in several locations in Gaza strip, at least two people have been killed in an Israeli air raid in the city. Another 25 Palestinians were also wounded in the attack on Friday night.
Palestinians consider East Jerusalem of their future state. Hamas leader and former Prime Minister of Palestine Ismail Haniyeh had called Trump’s move “a flagrant aggression”. He advised US saying, “We call on stopping this decision fully because this will usher in the beginning of a time of terrible transformations, not just on the Palestinian level but on the region as a whole. The decision means the official announcement of the end of the peace process,” he said.
Meanwhile, hundreds of protests against Trump’s decision were reported on Friday in different countries, Including US, Britain, France, Germany, several Middle Eastern countries and Indian subcontinent: India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]