The resolution calling for an end to Israeli settlements was passed with a U.S. abstention. (Osamu Honda/Associated Press)
Delayed resolution passes with rare U.S. abstention that may be seen as parting shot by Obama at Netanyahu.
The UN Security Council has passed a resolution demanding an end to Israeli settlements, defying pressure from U.S. president-elect Donald Trump as well as Israel and several U.S. senators who urged Washington to use its veto.
The United States abstained Friday from voting on the resolution, which passed with 14 of 15 Security Council members in favour. This is a relatively rare step by Washington, which usually shields Israel from such action.
The resolution had been abruptly withdrawn by Egypt on Thursday but later presented by four other members.
A U.S. abstention will likely be seen as parting shot by U.S. President Barack Obama, who has had an acrimonious relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and who has made settlements a major target of peace efforts that ultimately have proved to be futile.
Still, the resolution is unlikely to result in any major change in one of the thorniest Middle East conflicts. Netanyahu and Trump, who had both called for a veto, are expected to have a more amicable relationship.
A senior Israeli official Thursday that if adopted, there would be “zero chance” the Israeli government would abide by the measure. Under the UN charter, member states “agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council.”
The resolution asks the UN secretary general to report to the council every three months on the implementation of the resolution, and says the council will “examine practical ways and means to secure the full implementation.”
New Zealand, Malaysia, Venezuela and Senegal, who were co-sponsors of the draft resolution, requested Friday’s vote.
Pressure from Trump
The 15-member council had been due to vote on Thursday, but Egypt withdrew the draft resolution, under pressure from Israel and Trump, who spoke with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
Trump spokesman Sean Spicer said the Republican president-elect had spoken with both Netanyahu and al-Sisi about the proposed Security Council action.
“He put out a statement about the Egyptian motion that was going to happen at the UN. It was revoked,” Spicer said Friday on NBC’s Today program. “President al-Sisi called, Prime Minister Netanyahu called. He [Trump]is getting results, whether it’s domestically or abroad.”
On Friday, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, called on Washington to “stand by” Israel. In one of the harshest personal attacks by Netanyahu’s government, a senior Israeli official said Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry pushed a “shameful” anti-settlement resolution at the Security Council.
A senior U.S. official said the Obama administration has not been involved in crafting or promoting the resolution.
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, who heads the Senate subcommittee that oversees U.S. funding for the UN, threatened earlier on Friday to pull financial support for the international body if it moves forward with a vote and for any nation that backs the measure.