OIC slams US veto of UN resolution

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/166126.html

The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) has slammed the US for vetoing a UN Security Council resolution condemning illegal settlement activities by Israel on occupied Palestinian territories.

"It is a devastating blow to the credibility of international efforts to resume the peace process," OIC said in a statement on Saturday.

The Islamic organization with 57 member states said that the US move “will only encourage Israel to continue its violations.”

The group also urged the Israeli regime to end its settlement activities in the West Bank and East al-Quds (Jerusalem).

Despite the support of the Security Council's 14 other members of the Arab-backed resolution, the United States used its veto power to block the resolution.

Iran also joined other states to condemn the US for blocking the resolution.

“The resolution was approved by the permanent members of the Security Council (except the US), the member states of the Organization of the Islamic Conference and other UN members,” said Iran's ambassador to the UN Mohammad Khazaei late Friday after the council wrapped up voting on the resolution.

However, the single “no” vote by the US could annul the unanimous “yes” vote by the other fourteen members, the Iranian official added.

“The fact that a single vote can revoke the vote of the majority shows the Security Council is structurally weak,” Khazaei noted.

“This US move once again undermined the credibility of the Security Council,” the top Iranian diplomat went on to say.

Fourteen countries on Friday voted in favor of a resolution condemning Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank and East al-Quds, but US Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice vetoed it.

“Such cases show the Security Council cannot guarantee to safeguard people's lives and possessions,” he noted.

The United Nation has repeatedly condemned Israel for defying international calls to halt its settlement construction activities.

Palestinians view Israel's unrelenting settlement construction activities as a major hurdle smothering their efforts to establish an independent state on the territories Israel captured in the 1967 Six-Day War.

According to data from the Palestinian Information Center, Israel has demolished 995 Palestinian homes and displaced 5,783 individuals -- among them 3,109 children -- in the occupied al-Quds since the start of 2000.