(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) The Palestinian draft resolution, presented before the Security Council by Jordan, had failed to pass during an urgent meeting late Tuesday.
Eight members voted in favor of the draft resolution, two states against, and five abstained during the voting process.
Voting against the resolution, US Permanent Representative Samantha Power said that the resolution put before the Council is not a constructive step, saying it would undermine efforts to get back to an atmosphere that makes it possible to achieve two states for the two peoples.
Regrettably, Power expressed, instead of giving voice to the aspirations of both Palestinians and Israelis, the text addresses the concerns of only one side.
"It is deeply imbalanced and contains many elements that are not conducive to negotiations between the parties, including unconstructive deadlines that take no account of Israelآ's legitimate security concerns," she noted.
Ambassador Power said that this resolution was put to a vote without a discussion or due consideration among Council members, which is highly unusual, especially considering the gravity of the matter at hand.
"We must proceed responsibly, not take actions that would risk a downward spiral," she added.
The US voted against it not because they are comfortable with the status quo, but because peace will come from hard choices and compromises that must be made at the negotiating table.
On the other hand, France, wanted to offer "in the form of a draft resolution" a constructive, reasonable and consensual alternative to the initial Palestinian draft, in order for the Security Council to become a positive actor in the conflict rather than the theater of protests, theoretical declarations and successive vetoes, the Permanent Representative to France Francois Delattre said.
Unfortunately, he noted, that despite this positive approach and goodwill, no credible negotiations have gotten under way, while the deteriorating situation on the ground makes it imperative to act without delay.
Motivated by the urgent need to act, by the profound necessity to change our methods, by the responsibility incumbent upon each member of the Security Council, France therefore voted in favor of the resolution presented by Jordan, he said.
Furthermore, he said the text presented is not ideal, and they have reservations about some of its formulations.
Meanwhile, the Permanent Observer Riyad Mansour of Palestine accused the Security Council once again of failing to uphold its Charter duties to address these crises and to meaningfully contribute to a peaceful and lasting solution in accordarnce with its own resolutions.
Mansour expressed his deep regret, that the Council was unable to adopt this draft resolution, despite four months of efforts, patience and flexibility and "our serious attempts to engage and despite the fact that the draft reflected the longstanding international consensus on a solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict".
The result of today's vote showed that the Security Council as a whole is clearly not ready and willing to shoulder its responsibilities in a way that would allow for the adoption of a comprehensive resolution and allow us" to open the doors for peace and for a just and lasting solution based on international law, he added.
The presented draft affirmed the urgent need to attain, no later than 12 months after the "adoption of the resolution," a just, lasting and comprehensive peaceful solution that brings an end to the Israeli occupation since 1967 and fulfils the vision of two independent, democratic and prosperous states, Israel and a sovereign, contiguous and viable State of Palestine, living side by side in peace and security within mutually and internationally recognized borders.
It also decides that the negotiated solution wi!l be based on the several parameters, such as borders based on June 4, 1967 lines with mutually agreed, limited, equivalent land swaps, and security arrangements, including through a third-party presence, that guarantee and respect the sovereignty of a State of Palestine.
Furthermore, it also touched upon just and agreed solution to the Palestine refugee question on the basis of Arab Peace Initiative, international law and relevant United Nations resolution, as well as just resolution of the status of Jerusalem as the capital of the two States which fulfils the legitimate aspirations of both parties and protects freedom of worship.
Argentina, Chad, Chile, China, France, Jordan, Luxembourg and Russian Federation have voted in favor, as Australia and the US voted against. Lithuania, Nigeria, Republic of Korea and the UK abstained from voting.
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