[Peace] J Street: BREAKING: UNSC Resolution on Settlements Passes

Fri Dec 23 19:44:47 UTC 2016

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jeremy Ben-Ami, J Street <info at jstreet.org>
Date: Fri, Dec 23, 2016 at 1:30 PM
Subject: BREAKING: UNSC Resolution on Settlements Passes
To: "Mr. Robert Naiman" <naiman at justforeignpolicy.org>

[image: J Street]

Robert,

Moments ago, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) passed a resolution
demanding the cessation of Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank,
immediate steps to end terror and incitement, and reaffirming the
international community's support for a two-state solution.

President Obama, despite intense pressure to veto the resolution, made the
bold choice to abstain and allow the resolution to pass.

J Street opposes one-sided resolutions and actions in international
organizations. The United Nations and its constituent bodies have often
acted in a one-sided and biased manner, and J Street has repeatedly opposed
such actions. J Street has also opposed calls to impose a solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict at the UN.

The resolution that passed the Security Council today, however, is not
one-sided. It does not seek to impose a solution on the parties. In fact,
it explicitly calls on the parties to stop taking actions that undermine
the chances of a two-state solution and to re-enter negotiations aimed at
achieving peace.

*We support the decision of the Obama administration to abstain, thereby
allowing for the Security Council's vote to go forward.*

We encourage people to take the time to read the actual resolution, which
respects the interests of the State of Israel and advances the cause of a
two-state solution so vital to maintaining Israel’s democratic and Jewish
character. Our full statement on the importance of this resolution is
pasted below.

In addition, I hope you'll *add your name and thank President Obama
<http://act.jstreet.org/go/5213?t=1&akid=5396.183166.YjbaeT>* for choosing
not to veto this resolution.

J Street has pushed for stronger American opposition to settlement
expansion, and we have suggested for many years that one way to express
that opposition is to allow passage of a resolution on that topic in the
Security Council -- provided it is not one-sided.

In the coming days, the administration will face heat for its principled
stance. Those of us who recognize that Israel’s future as a democratic and
Jewish state is being placed at risk by the emerging one-state reality on
the West Bank must show our support.

*Add your name to our thank you note to President Obama.
<http://act.jstreet.org/go/5213?t=2&akid=5396.183166.YjbaeT>*

Thanks,
Jeremy
J Street Welcomes US Abstention on UNSC Resolution

J Street welcomes the decision today by the Obama administration to abstain
from voting on a United Nations Security Council resolution which reaffirms
the need for a two-state solution and calls for a halt to actions by both
sides that serve to undermine the prospects for peace.

The resolution is consistent with longstanding bipartisan American policy,
which includes strong support for the two-state solution, and clear
opposition to irresponsible and damaging actions including Palestinian
incitement and terror and Israeli settlement expansion and home demolitions.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict can only end based on mutual agreement
between Israelis and Palestinians, and President Obama has repeatedly
stated his opposition to the United Nations -- or any other entity --
imposing a binding resolution on the parties. He also has stated and
demonstrated a commitment to vetoing UNSC resolutions that are one-sided or
anti-Israel.

Recent Congressional resolutions have reaffirmed this position. They have
made clear that there is no US obligation to veto UNSC resolutions, like
the one passed today, which acknowledge harmful actions, rhetoric or
policies of both parties to the conflict. In fact, Democratic and
Republican Presidents alike have frequently supported such UN Security
Council resolutions on the conflict.

Indeed, a Congressional resolution earlier this year joined by 64 Members
of the House of Representatives, and supported by J Street and the
pro-Israel, pro-peace movement, encouraged the US government to “firmly
articulat[e] 49 years of consistent, bipartisan United States opposition to
settlement expansion.”

This resolution conveys the overwhelming support of the international
community, including Israel’s closest friends and allies, for the two-state
solution, and their deep concern over the deteriorating status quo between
Israelis and Palestinians and the lack of meaningful progress toward peace.
It is also a clear signal that the international community's patience with
an occupation of almost 50 years has limits.

Over the past few years, a major increase in settlement expansion and other
activities that undermine the two-state solution have made clear the urgent
need for strong US and international leadership to help preserve it, to
remind the parties of the responsibilities and to help move them back on
the path to a comprehensive negotiated agreement.

The consistent failure of the Palestinian leadership to adequately condemn
acts of terror against Israeli civilians, and the apparent commitment of
the current Israeli government to expanding, entrenching and retroactively
legalizing settlement expansion and land seizure in the West Bank, warrant
a strong rebuke from the international community and a clear affirmation of
the commitments that are needed from both sides. This resolution helps to
fill that need.

The overwhelming majority of American Jewish supporters of Israel continue
to believe that the two-state solution is the only way to secure Israel’s
future as a democratic homeland for the Jewish people, and support strong
American leadership to help achieve that goal, even when that means
criticizing and rebuking counter-productive actions of the Israeli
government. Election Day 2016 polling found that 62 percent of Jewish
voters believe the United States should either support or abstain from
voting on a United Nations Security Council resolution calling on Israel to
stop building settlements in the West Bank.

Moving forward, J Street hopes that both Israelis and Palestinians will
respect the sense of this resolution and take appropriate steps in
response. President Abbas and the Palestinians must show far greater
vigilance and seriousness in opposing and condemning acts of terror, and
acts of incitement -- including actions at the UN that ignore Israeli
rights and historic Jewish ties to Jerusalem and the holy sites of the
Jewish people. Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Israelis must reverse the
overwhelming tide of settlement expansion in the West Bank, cease home
demolitions and expulsions of Palestinian residents, and marginalize
prominent leaders calling for a “one-state solution,” annexation, or
permanent occupation.

We urge all actors, including the incoming US administration, to recognize
that this resolution is now the benchmark set by the international
community and must be respected as such. Steps to abrogate or ignore it
would not only damage Israel’s future and the prospects for a two-state
solution, but undermine American interests and standing in the world.

DONATE
<https://act.jstreet.org/donate/donate_to_jstreet/?akid=5396.183166.YjbaeT>
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© 2016 J Street | www.jstreet.org
<http://jstreet.org?akid=5396.183166.YjbaeT> | info at jstreet.org

J Street is the political home for pro-Israel, pro-peace Americans who want
Israel to be secure, democratic and the national home of the Jewish people.
Working in American politics and the Jewish community, we advocate policies
that advance shared US and Israeli interests as well as Jewish and
democratic values, leading to a two-state solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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