The Phnom Penh Post

Countries at UN condemn Israel over Gaza violence

- Carole Landry

THE UN General Assembly onWednesda­y adopted by a strong majority of 120 countries an Arab-backed resolution condemning Israel for Palestinia­n deaths in Gaza and rejected a US bid to blame Hamas for the violence.

The resolution deplores Israel’s use of “excessive, disproport­ionate and indiscrimi­nate force” against Palestinia­n civilians and calls for protection measures for Palestinia­ns in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

At least 129 Palestinia­ns have been killed by Israeli fire during protests near the border with Gaza that began at the end of March. No Israelis have died.

Presented by Algeria and Turkey on behalf of Arab and Muslim countries, the measure won a decisive 120 votes in the 193-member assembly, with 8 votes against and 45 abstention­s.

US Ambassador Nikki Haley dismissed the resolution as “one-sided” and accused Arab countries of trying to score political points at home by seeking to condemn Israel at the United Nations.

“For some, attacking Israel is their favorite political sport. That’s why we are here today,” Haley told the assembly.

An amendment presented by the United States that condemned Hamas for “inciting violence” along the border with Gaza failed to garner the two-third majority needed for adoption.

Arab countries backing the measure turned to the General Assembly after the US used its veto in the Security Council to block the resolution on June 1.

Unlike the Security Council, resolution­s adopted by the assembly are non- binding and there is no veto.

The resolution tasks UN SecretaryG­eneral Antonio Guterres with the drafting of proposals for an “internatio­nal protection mechanism” for the Palestinia­ns in Gaza and the West Bank.

These could range from setting up an observer mission to a full-blown peacekeepi­ng force, but action on any option would require backing from the Security Council, where the UShas veto power.

“We are asking for a simple thing,” Palestinia­n Ambassador Riyad Mansour told the assembly. “We want our civilian population to be protected.”

Turkey’s Ambassador Feridun Hadi Sinirliogl­u defended the resolution, saying it was “about taking sides with internatio­nal law” and showing the Palestinia­ns that the world “does care about their suffering.”

Taking the podium, Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon assailed the measure as an “attempt to take away our basic right to self-defence”. He warned ambassador­s by supporting the resolution “you are empowering Hamas”.

France was among 12 EU countries that backed the resolution, but Britain abstained along with Italy, Poland and 13 other EU member-states. Russia and China voted in favor.

Australia, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, the Solomon Islands and Togo joined the US and Israel in voting against the resolution.

The US amendment condemning Hamas received 62 votes in favor, with 58 against and 42 abstention­s. The United States sought to challenge the ruling requiring a two-thirds majority for approval but that was defeated in a separate vote.

 ?? SAID KHATIB/AFP ?? Palestinia­n paramedics and protesters carry away an injured demonstrat­or on a stretcher along the border with Israel, east of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on June 8.
SAID KHATIB/AFP Palestinia­n paramedics and protesters carry away an injured demonstrat­or on a stretcher along the border with Israel, east of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on June 8.

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