U.N. Security Council rejects Palestinian statehood resolution
A resolution pushed by Palestinian delegates to create a separate Palestinian state by 2017 failed to garner the necessary nine votes at the United Nations Security Council. Eight nations — including France, Russia, and China — supported the measure, five abstained, and the U.S. and Australian voted against it. Even if the proposal had received one more vote, a U.S. veto would have killed it.
Along with insisting on statehood and a withdrawal of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank by 2017, the draft resolution called for a peace deal with Israel within 12 months and stated that only East Jerusalem was a suitable capital for Palestine.
The U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Samantha Powers, said that the vote was rushed through without discussion and the proposal was "deeply unbalanced" and had "unconstructive deadlines that take no account of Israel's legitimate security concerns." At the same time, she said, "today's vote should not be interpreted as a victory for an unsustainable status quo."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Chappell Roan is a new kind of boundary-setting celebrity
In the Spotlight She's calling out fans and the media for invasive behavior
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
Saudi crown prince slams Israeli 'genocide' in Gaza
Speed Read Mohammed bin Salman has condemned Israel’s actions
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'We could face disaster in the near future'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Mossad's history with explosive technology
The Explainer Infamous Israeli spy agency has not claimed responsibility for Hezbollah's exploding pagers but has 'decades-long' list of remote assassinations
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Hamas and Hezbollah strikes: what does it mean for Israel?
Today's Big Question Iran vows revenge for death of Hamas political leader in Tehran, hours after Israeli strike kills top Hezbollah member in Beirut
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
British warship repels 'largest Houthi attack to date' in the Red Sea
Speed read Western allies warn of military response to Iranian-backed Yemeni rebels if attacks on ships continue
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Houthi rebels claim Red Sea ship attacks
speed read Iran-backed Yemeni group vows to escalate aggression towards Israel-linked vessels in revenge for Gaza war
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Israel plans next phase of Gaza war as first hostages released
Speed read After four-day ceasefire 'we will not stop' until destruction of Hamas, says Israel
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Israel says Gaza split in two in 'significant stage' of war against Hamas
Speed Read Troops expected to enter Gaza City within 48 hours as US secretary of state continues 'diplomatic shuttle'
By The Week UK Published
-
Mob storms Russian airport 'looking for Jews'
Speed Read Plane from Israel surrounded by rioters chanting antisemitic slogans after landing in Russia's Dagestan region
By The Week UK Published
-
How trustworthy are the Gaza Health Ministry's casualty numbers?
The Explainer President Biden and other observers of the Israel-Hamas war are skeptical of the Hamas-run ministry's death toll. But those doubts may be unwarranted.
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published