Haley takes last stand at UN, condemns Hamas

The UN General Assembly is to vote on a US-drafted resolution condemning the Palestinian Hamas movement, in what could mark US Ambassador Nikki Haley’s parting gesture at the UN.

Haley, who will step down as UN ambassador at the end of the year, has repeatedly accused the UN of having an anti-Israel bias and strongly supports Israel in its latest confrontation with Hamas in Gaza.

If adopted, it would mark the first time the 193-nation assembly has taken aim at Hamas, the militant group that has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007.

The US has won crucial backing from the EU, with all 28 countries set to support the US measure that condemns Hamas for firing rockets into Israel and demands an end to the violence.

Diplomats, however, warn the session could go awry over procedural issues, notably whether a majority of two-thirds will be required for adoption or a simple majority. There was also much diplomatic wrangling after the Palestinians presented an amendment to the US text to include a reference to UN resolutions that condemn Israeli settlements, call for negotiations on East Jerusalem and pledge support for the two-state solution.

In negotiations with the Europeans, the US agreed to add a mention of “relevant UN resolutions” without specifying which ones. The US text does not refer specifically to the two-state solution.

After talks with the Europeans late Wednesday, the Palestinians agreed to withdraw their amendment and instead table a separate resolution, diplomats said.

That move increased the chances that the US measure will be adopted, as well as the Palestinian-drafted resolution. EU countries plan to support both measures.

Haley rattled the UN when she arrived in January 2017 vowing that the US will be “taking names” of countries that oppose President Donald Trump’s foreign policy.

Ahead of the vote, the US ambassador sent a letter to all UN missions to make clear that “the United States takes the outcome of this vote very seriously.”

Votes

The vote at the assembly could be a crowning achievement for Haley as she prepares to step away from public life.

Diplomats say the US administration has lobbied hard to win votes.

“She would like to go out with something,” said a Security Council diplomat.