Palestinians push for UN membership and against settlements

In this photo provided by the United Nations, Riyad H. Mansour, the Palestinian Ambassador to the United Nations, briefs journalists on the signing of international treaties and conventions by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, at United Nations Headquarters, Wednesday, April 2, 2104. Mansour said that his government may seek to join the International Criminal Court and more U.N. agencies if there is no progress in peace talks with the Israelis. (AP Photo/United Nations, Mark Garten)

The Palestinians have said they are sounding out members of the UN Security Council on a new resolution demanding a halt to Israeli settlement building and on prospects for becoming a full member of the United Nations.

Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour on Thursday said that he met with about half the 15-member council in the last 10 days and expects to meet the rest in the next week. He said he will then report back to an Arab ministerial committee which will decide on next steps.

Mr. Mansour announced the new Palestinian initiatives ahead of an informal meeting of the UN Security Council today on .

“Illegal Israeli Settlements: Obstacles to Peace and the Two-State Solution.” It was organised by five non-permanent council members Angola, Malaysia, Venezuela, Senegal and Egypt.

The scheduled speakers include representatives from two Israeli human rights groups, Peace Now and B’Tselem, and Americans for Peace Now.

Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon harshly criticised the expected participation of the Israeli organisations.

“During this time of year of reflection and prayer for unity amongst our people, it is sad and disappointing that Israeli organizations are providing moral cover for anti-Israel activities at the UN,” Mr. Danon said.

Mr. Mansour strongly criticised the “dangerous evolution of settlement activities which is threatening to destroy the two-state solution option.”

The Palestinians pushed for the Security Council to adopt a resolution against settlements in February 2011 but it was vetoed by the United States. The 14 other Security Council members voted in favor of the resolution, reflecting the wide support for the draft which had over 100 co-sponsors.

Mr. Mansour said a new resolution would draw from the 2011 text which would have condemned “illegal” Israeli settlements and demanded an immediate halt to all settlement building.

Mr. Mansour said he hasn’t met US Ambassador Samantha Power yet.

“From what has been coming out from Washington, State Department, White House, and what has been written in the media ... there is a strong indication that the United States of America should be sympathetic to a resolution on settlements,” Mr. Mansour said, “although we don’t know for sure because they did not tell us exactly what they will do.”

As for the possibility of Palestine becoming the 194th UN member state, the Security Council’s admissions committee approved a report in November 2011 saying there was no consensus among the 15 council nations on the Palestinian application for UN membership. That application is still before the council.