NEW YORK – United States had to face huge embarassemt at United Nations asit’s resolution against Hamas failed to gather two third majority neededfor passing it.
The resolution condemned Hamas for “repeatedly firing rockets into Israeland for inciting violence, thereby putting civilians at risk”, and for itsuse of resources in Gaza to construct military infrastructure “includingtunnels to infiltrate Israel and equipment to launch rockets into civilianareas”.
It specified that further engagement by the UN Secretary-General, and theUN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, in efforts tode-escalate the situation in Gaza, was also needed.
A procedural vote held before the main vote on the resolution – calling forthe latter to be decided on a two-thirds majority – passed in the chamber,narrowing the odds of the resolution passing successfully: although 87voted in favour, 57 voted against, with 33 abstentions, meaning that theresolution failed under the two-thirds ruling.
Before the votes, the US Permanent Representative to the UN, said thatdespite more than 500 General Assembly resolutions condemning Israel, notone condemning Hamas has ever been adopted. She described the two-thirdsdecision, which passed by just a handful of votes, as “unfair’” adding thatthe Hamas resolution was an opportunity for States to “do the right thing.”
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The Israeli Ambassador, Danny Danon, said that the resolution had been achance for “UN redemption,” and that those who had voted against it “shouldbe ashamed of themselves.”
A number of States explained their reasons for voting against theresolution. The Saudi Arabian representative stated that, since 1967,Israel has not respected any General Assembly or Security Councilresolutions, whilst Kuwait and Iran’s representatives said that theresolution “ignores” and “deflects attention from” the root causes of theconflict.
