UNSC Vote Against Israeli Settlements A Victory For The People Of Palestine - Najib

Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Kuala Lumpur, 25 Rabiul Awwal 1438/25 December 2016 (MINA) – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak described the United Nations Security Council’s (UNSC) vote calling on Israel to stop the illegal construction of settlements in Palestine as a victory for the people of Palestine.

The Prime Minister said Malaysia and three countries, namely New Zealand, Senegal and Venezuela had put the text of a draft resolution to vote on Friday in a largely tense and unexpected climax to the chain of events.

“Alhamdulillah, with the grace of God (Allah SWT), the resolution which faced uncertainty when Egypt withdrew the draft, had finally answered the prayers of the people of Palestine.

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“Malaysia, together with New Zealand, Senegal and Venezuela agreed to put the text of a draft resolution to vote, calling on Israel to stop the construction of illegal settlements,” Bernama quoted Najib as saying in his blog posting titled ‘Resolusi Menentang Penempatan Haram’.

Reflecting consensus view of international community

Najib said the decision was not viewed from the religious point but an endorsement of the support from the international community that opposed the breach of international law by the regime.

Earlier today, eighteen members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) – including the four permanent members China, France, Russia and the United Kingdom – voted in favour of the resolution while the US abstained, and Israel voted against it.

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The outgoing Malaysian Permanent Representative to the United nations Datuk Ramlan Ibrahim, told Bernama right after the UNSC voting process that the positive development was clearly a diplomatic success story for Malaysia.

After Friday’s U.N. vote, the U.S. special envoy to the peace process, Frank Lowenstein, said Kerry would in the coming days make a speech laying out ideas to revive it.

The White House insists the U.N. resolution, which Israel wasted no time in rejecting, simply reflects the consensus view of the international community on Israeli settlements, AFP reported.

But Obama’s abstention came under withering criticism from across Washington — with both Democrats and Republicans accusing the outgoing president of colluding with a biased world body to betray an ally. (T/RS05/RS01)

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Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)