An attempt by the United States to pass a resolution at the United Nations General Assembly, which sought to condemn the Islamist Hamas for its indiscriminate firing of rockets toward Israel’s civilian communities has failed. While a majority of the world-body’s General Assembly voted in favor, the draft resolution did not receive the necessary two-thirds majority of the assembly members. A total of 87 countries supported the draft-resolution, including among others all EU-member states. While initially 33 countries abstained, Afghanistan requested to change its vote, raising the number of member states opposing the draft-resolution from 57 to 58. Among the countries voting against the resolution were Russia and China, whom do not recognize Hamas as a terror-entity.
Meanwhile, the United States Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley pointed to the ridiculous fact that the United Nations had condemned Israel more than 500 times over the years, yet it had never condemned the Islamist Hamas. She added that there is nothing more anti-Semitic than to say that terror is not terrorism when it is employed against the Jewish state; while underscoring that peace between Israel and the Palestinians could not be advocated for, unless the international community unites in condemning Hamas. Haley said, “Before the General Assembly can credibly advocate compromise and reconciliation between the Palestinians and Israel, it must on record, unambiguously and unconditionally, condemning Hamas terrorism.” While Israel accused countries that voted against the draft-resolution as ‘shamelessly applying political moves of procedure to hijack the vote,’ Jerusalem’s ambassador to the world body asserted that a majority of the world body voiced a strong and courageous position, which has – in effect – brought Hamas to justice. Danny Danon stated that “Today we achieved a plurality. That plurality would have been a majority, if the vote had not been hijacked by a political move of procedure. But in one, strong courageous voice, we have brought Hamas to justice. For those member-states who rejected this resolution, you should be ashamed of yourselves. Wait until you have to deal with terrorism in your own countries. Your silence in the face of evil reveals your true colors. It tells us what side you are really on. A side that does not care for the lives of innocent Israelis, and innocent Palestinians, who have fallen victims to the terrorists of Hamas.” In response to the vote, the Palestinian envoy to the world body accused Washington of “exploiting the issues and terror,” while claiming that the draft-resolution was a cynical attempt to “name and shame, in a biased and flagrant manner,” the Palestinians. That said, the Palestinian envoy, who represents the West Bank Authority that is embroiled in a bloody-rivalry with Hamas, refrained from voicing support for the Islamist group. Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian Envoy to the U.N., said “What happened today in this assembly was brought about by instigation of unnecessary confrontation with questionable motives and objectives, exploiting the issues and terror. Its overt purpose was to name and shame in a biased, flagrant manner. This is it not the business of the general assembly. Its role is to promote cooperative, sustainable solutions to the complex problems and conflicts in our world. This U.S. action does the opposite, exacerbating tensions and undermining the collective serious efforts to deescalate, build trust and confidence and clearly pressure reconciliation and peace.” In contrast to the Palestinian envoy, the most vocal supporter of the internationally recognized terror group was the Islamic Republic of Iran, which declared Hamas as a legitimate resistance movement that fights for the liberation of its territory – while emphasizing that all means necessary to expel Israel – which he referred to as Foreign invaders – was legitimate under international law. According to Eshagh al-Habib, the Iranian Deputy Ambassador to the U.N., “We recognize Hamas as a legitimate resistance movement fighting for the liberation of Palestinian territory from foreign occupation. Hamas is part and parcel of the Palestinian people and defends the Palestinian civilians against Israeli military aggression. By any measure, this is an inherent legitimate right under international law.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the countries that supported the draft resolution. The Israeli leader underlined, in a statement, that while the necessary two-thirds majority was not obtained, this was the first time that a majority of countries has voted against Hamas.