UN Slams US for Backing «Israeli» Settlements

By Staff, Agencies

The European Union, Russia, China and other members of the UN Security Council on Wednesday strongly opposed the US announcement that it no longer considers “Israeli” settlements in the occupied West Bank to be a violation of international law.

Nickolay Mladenov, the UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, opened the Security Council meeting, expressing “regret” at the US action and reiterating the UN position that settlements under a December 2016 council resolution “are a flagrant violation under international law.”

Indonesian Ambassador Dian Triansyah Djani, whose country has the world’s largest Muslim population, called the US announcement “irresponsible and provocative,” saying it “incontrovertibly constitutes a de facto annexation and is a barrier to peace efforts based on the two-state solution.”

Following the Security Council meeting, ambassadors from the 10 non-permanent council members who serve two-year terms stood before reporters while Deputy German Ambassador Jurgen Shultz read a critical joint statement.

“‘Israeli’ settlement activities are illegal, erode the viability of the two-state solution and undermine the prospect for a just, lasting and comprehensive peace” as affirmed by the 2016 council resolution, the statement said.

It also called on the “Israeli” entity to end all settlement activity and expressed concern at calls for possible annexation of areas in the occupied West Bank.

Kuwaiti Ambassador Mansour al-Otaibi, the Arab representative on the council, then told reporters that 14 countries agreed in the private session on the press statement.

Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour also said he was grateful to the 14 council nations and their commitment to international law, saying that all 193 UN member nations are required to implement all Security Council resolutions, including on the illegality of all settlements.

"The US administration once again makes another illegal announcement on ‘Israeli’ settlements in order to sabotage any chance to achieve peace, security and stability in our region and for our people," Mansour said.

"We strongly reject and condemn this unlawful and irresponsible declaration; we consider it to be null legally, politically, historically and morally."

Before the meeting, British Ambassador to the UN Karen Pierce had told reporters that "all settlement activity is illegal under international law and it erodes the viability of the two-state solution and the prospects for a lasting peace."

She was speaking on behalf of Germany, France, Poland, Belgium and Britain, the EU's current Security Council members.

The meeting was held two days after an announcement by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reversed a four-decade-old US position on illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. The move was welcomed by the “Israeli” entity but drew condemnation from Palestinians and Arab leaders.

The shift has been widely interpreted as a green light for “Israeli” settlement building in the occupied West Bank.