Arab League welcomes UN vote against settlements

CAIRO: The Arab League welcomed in a statement on Saturday a UN Security Council resolution that demands immediate and complete halt of all Israeli settlement activities on occupied Palestinian territories.

League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit congratulated the Palestinian people and government on the “pivotal” resolution that was endorsed by a large majority and after more than 35 years of attempts to issue a similar resolution.

“The resolution reflects massive international support for the historical struggle of the Palestinian people to get their legitimate rights, atop of which is the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital,” said the AL chief in the statement.

The resolution was endorsed on Friday by 14 out of the council’s 15 member states, while the US, Israel’s biggest ally, abstained but did not veto despite attempts of US President-elect Donald Trump.

Egypt tried to delay the whole vote on the resolution, which was seen as response to pressure from Trump, yet the Egyptian foreign ministry later explained that the requested delay was only meant to avoid the exercise of veto right against the resolution.

Aboul-Gheit expected the resolution to build momentum that would pressure Israel to abide by its content as well as other relevant international resolutions.