Israel summoned to Jerusalem on Sunday, Christmas Day, ambassadors representing countries that voted in favour of a U.N. Security Council resolution that harshly criticizes Israeli settlement activity, calling them an obstacle to peace.
Ambassadors of four of the five permanent Security Council members – the United Kingdom, China, France, Russia – as well as non-permanent members with diplomatic relations with Israel – Egypt, Japan, New Zealand, Uruguay, Ukraine and Spain – were issued a sharp reprimand by Israeli Foreign Ministry officials.
The resolution, which passed Friday, declares that Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem have “no legal validity” and constitute a “flagrant violation under international law.” It also called the settlements a major obstacle to achieving the two-state solution and peace with the Palestinians.
Fourteen of the 15 members of the Security Council voted in favor of the resolution. The United States, breaking with a long-standing policy of preventing resolutions dealing with Israel, did not use its veto powers to stop the resolution’s passage, abstaining from the vote instead.
Read the full article by Ruth Eglash at the Australian Financial Review.