Nearly 400 lawmakers urge Obama to oppose ‘one-sided’ UN resolutions on Israel

The U.S. should “maintain its indispensable role of mediator” by closely coordinating its moves with “our democratic ally Israel,” the letter to the President reads

A majority of the members of House of Representatives signed a letter urging President Barack Obama to reject any actions by the United Nations that are biased against Israel.

The letter undersigned by 388 House Republicans and Democrats — 89 per cent of the 435 representatives — was sent to Obama Thursday amid reports that the Palestinian Authority might revive a draft resolution against Israel’s policies in the West Bank, similar to the one vetoed in 2011 at the Security Council by the United States.

The U.S. should “maintain its indispensable role of mediator” by closely coordinating its moves with “our democratic ally Israel” and by refusing “to support counterproductive efforts aimed at imposing a solution,” read the letter, initiated by Democrat Nita Lowey of New York and Republican Kay Granger of Texas.

It also said the signatories were “deeply troubled by reports that one-sided initiatives may arise at the UN in the coming months concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Such efforts dangerously hinder the prospects for resuming direct negotiations.”

In a recent interview, Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Riad Malki expressed hope that Obama would let the Security Council vote on a resolution against Israel because he is about to leave office.

“We share your frustration with the lack of significant progress toward a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians,” the letter to Obama reads, but “only the parties themselves can agree to end their conflict through a negotiated resolution.”

The White House hasn’t yet received the lawmakers’ letter and declined to comment on it, the Wall Street Journal reported.


Photo: Flickr

 

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