THE PALESTINIAN leadership is to take the issue of Israeli settlements to the United Nations general assembly, and will hold a “day of rage” on Friday to protest against the US veto of a UN security council resolution condemning the settlements.
Despite intense pressure from Washington, the Palestinians refused to withdraw or tone down the wording of the draft resolution.
This prompted the US to use its veto power for the first time since President Barack Obama came to power.
The four European Union members of the security council, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Portugal, were among the 14 states which unanimously backed the weekend resolution.
The resolution declared Israeli settlements illegal and said they were a “major obstacle to the achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace”.
Nabil Shaath, a senior aide to Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, said the vote “proved that Israel is isolated internationally and is only protected by the American veto”.
He said that large demonstrations would be held throughout the West Bank on Friday to express Palestinian anger at the US move.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed satisfaction over the US veto.
“We aspire to a solution that will combine legitimate Palestinian aims with Israel’s need for security and recognition.
The US decision clarifies that the only way to peace is through negotiations,” he said.
An overwhelming majority in favour of the resolution is expected if the Palestinians take the issue to the UN general assembly.
Israel fears that such a move may be a dry run for a Palestinian push later this year for the UN to recognise an independent Palestinian state. In vetoing the resolution, the US stressed that it was completely opposed to the settlements but believed that taking the issue to the United Nations only complicated peace efforts.
The Palestinian leadership has linked a resumption of negotiations with a complete freeze by Israel on construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.
The veto prompted a harsh anti-American backlash from Palestinian officials and added impetus to efforts to mend the rift between Fatah and Hamas.
Yasser Abed Rabbo said that the US role as a peace mediator had come to an end and that therefore the Palestinians had turned to the international community.
Palestinian prime minister Salam Fayyad said that if Hamas agreed to join the Palestinian authority in a national unity government, the PA would not interfere in Hamas control over Gaza in the run-up to elections later this year.