search

UN Security Council again meets on Israel, US blocks statement

The UN Security Council holds another emergency meeting on worsening hostilities between Israel and Palestinians, again without agreeing on a joint statement due to opposition from the United States, Israel’s key ally, according to diplomats.

The United States sees the Security Council meeting as a sufficient show of concern, one diplomat tells AFP on condition of anonymity.

“The US doesn’t see that a statement will help de-escalate,” says another.

According to several sources, 14 of the 15 members of the Council were in favor of adopting a joint declaration aimed at reducing tension.

The statement would have criticized both Israelis and Palestinians for the ongoing violence, highlighting Hamas rocket fire from Gaza but also criticizing the looming Israeli evictions of Palestinians in East Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood and urged israel to respect the status quo at the capital’s holy sites.

Illustrative: The Security Council meets virtually on January 26, 2020 to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Screen capture/United Nations)

UN Middle East envoy Tor Wennesland warned the meeting that the “situation has deteriorated since Monday… there is a risk of a spiral of violence,” according to a diplomatic source.

During a first emergency meeting on Monday, the United States also refused to back a text proposed by Tunisia, Norway and China calling on all parties to refrain from provocation.

Never miss breaking news on Israel
Get notifications to stay updated
You're subscribed
image
Register for free
and continue reading
Registering also lets you comment on articles and helps us improve your experience. It takes just a few seconds.
Already registered? Enter your email to sign in.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Or Continue with
By registering you agree to the terms and conditions. Once registered, you’ll receive our Daily Edition email for free.
Register to continue
Or Continue with
Log in to continue
Sign in or Register
Or Continue with
check your email
Check your email
We sent an email to you at .
It has a link that will sign you in.