Trump calls for veto of West Bank draft resolution

The United States President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday urged a veto of a draft United Nations Security Council resolution regarding settlement construction in the West Bank.

TORONTO, Canada (Kurdistan24) – The United States President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday urged a veto of a draft United Nations Security Council resolution regarding settlement construction in the West Bank.

Trump issued a statement calling on President Barack Obama to veto the UN resolution.

“The resolution being considered at the United Nations Security Council regarding Israel should be vetoed,” the President-elect said in his statement.

“Peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians will only come through direct negotiations between the parties, and not through the imposition of terms by the United Nations,” he added.

Additionally, Trump said the resolution would put “Israel in a very poor negotiating position and [was] extremely unfair to all Israelis.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also voiced his concern, calling the proposed resolution “anti-Israel.”

The draft was submitted to the UN Security Council by Egypt on Wednesday and received support from several countries including France.

The French ambassador to Israel on Thursday said she expected her country to support the draft resolution, adding it was “balanced and [matched] France’s position.”

The resolution, if voted for, would declare Israeli settlements in the West Bank as illegal.

Earlier this month, Trump revealed plans to move the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to West Jerusalem, home to Israel’s national government.

The move would demonstrate the President-elect’s support for Israel and his desire to improve relations with the nation.

The draft resolution also offers President Obama one last significant move as leader of the United States before Trump is officially inaugurated in the New Year.

 

Editing by Ava Homa