The UN Security Council held a session on a second quarterly report regarding the implementation of resolution 2334, which was adopted on the 23rd of December, when the United States under the Obama Administration decided to abstain the vote. The resolution, which defined Israel’s settlement construction as illegal and demanded an end to all provocation, incitement and inflammatory rhetoric on both sides, was rejected by Israel as one sided – in favor of the Palestinian narrative.
That said, even though the Palestinian leadership praised the council’s adoption of the resolution, the UN Middle East envoy, Nickolay Mladenov, who is tasked with monitoring both Israel and the Palestinians – declared that neither side adhered to the world body’s resolution.
“The policy of continued illegal settlement construction in the occupied Palestinian territory contravenes resolution 2334. The large number of settlement-related activities documented during this period undermine the chances of establishment of a viable, continuous Palestinian state as part of a two-state solution.” / “Mr. President, Security Council resolution 2334 called upon both parties to refrain from acts of provocation, excitement and inflammatory rhetoric and to, ‘clearly condemn all acts of terrorism’. Regrettably such calls continue to go unanswered during the reporting period,” said Mladenov.
The UN’s Middle East envoy also warned the council of the deteriorating situation in the Gaza Strip, stressing that the Hamas-run enclave has become a “tinderbox”. “I want to once again warn all parties that Gaza is a tinderbox. If and when it explodes it will have devastating consequences for the population and derail all efforts at advancing peace. Two million Palestinians in Gaza can no longer be held hostage by divisions. For a decade, they have lived under the control of Hamas. They have had to deal with crippling Israeli closures, Palestinian divisions and have lived through three devastating conflicts,” added Mladenov.
The United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, who has accused the Security Council of “bashing Israel,” called on the powerful body to address the real threat of the region, which she attributed to the Islamist Hamas organization.
“Every ounce of what we do should be against Hamas. They are a dangerous actor who have no care for the Palestinians, no care for the Israelis, and they are determined to destroy everything in their path. So once again we are having this session, and once again we will hear speeches on whether you are for Israel, against Israel, for Palestinians, against Palestinians. But I would ask you to please address the real threat that is causing so many people harm, and that’s the threat of Hamas. Thank you,” further said Mladenov.