Security Council likely to condemn Israel over construction in Judea and Samaria

The United Nations Security Council is considering a draft resolution, seen by Reuters on Wednesday, that would demand Israel “immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory.”

The 15-member council is likely to vote on Monday on the text, drafted by the United Arab Emirates in coordination with the Palestinian Authority, diplomats told the news agency.

The text “reaffirms that the establishment by Israel of settlements in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, has no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law.”

It also condemns all attempts at annexation, including decisions and measures by Israel regarding “settlements”, according to Reuters.

The resolution follows the decision by Israel’s security cabinet to authorize nine communities in Judea and Samaria, which have existed for many years and some of which have existed for decades.

On Tuesday, PA and US officials told Barak Ravid of Axios that the PA is talking to members of the UN Security Council about a possible resolution against Israel.

According to Ravid’s report, the Biden administration is trying to convince the PA not to push for a vote on any Security Council resolution related to the decision.

The Biden administration proposed that instead of a resolution, the US would support the release of a presidential statement by the Security Council on the issue of “settlements”, officials said.

The US mission to the United Nations and Israel’s UN mission did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the draft resolution expected to voted upon on Monday.

The US has traditionally used its veto power in the Security Council when it has attempted to pass anti-Israel resolutions, though the Obama administration in 2016 did not veto a Security Council resolution against Israel’s presence in Judea and Samaria.