US OPEN TO NEW UN RESOLUTION AS LONG AS IT DOESN’T ‘HARM’ ISRAEL

Washington, 10 Dzulqa’dah 1435 /5 September 2014 (MINA) –US envoy to the United Nations Samantha Power said yesterday that Washington is open to any UNSC resolution but it must “do no harm” to Israel and at the same time “contributes to sustaining the Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire”.

Ambassador Power said that she does not think that any unilateral steps might achieve what the Palestinians hope.

“We do not think there are shortcuts or unilateral measures that can be taken at the United Nations or any place else that will bring about the outcome that the Palestinian people most seek,” she said, according to Middle East Monitor (MEMO) reports quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA), Friday.

She continued: “If you mean to secure a permanent peace, Israel has to be a part of that negotiation, just as a practical matter.

So to think that you can come to New York and secure what needs to be worked out on the ground is not realistic.”

Meanwhile, Israeli newspaper Maariv said today that Tel Aviv is afraid that the US might not veto the Palestinian draft resolution regarding the timeline to end the Israeli occupation because of the recent tensions between Washington and Tel Aviv. (T/P002/P3)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)