Gaza: UN Security Council Adopts US Cease-Fire Proposal
Gaza: UN Security Council Adopts US CeasefireCease-Fire Proposal
The Facts
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Monday overwhelmingly adopted a resolution endorsing a US-backed ceasefire proposal that aims to end the eight-month Israel-Hamas war.
Adopted with 14 of the 15 Security Council members voting in favor and Russia - which has veto power - abstaining, the resolution calls on Israel and Hamas to implement the proposal's terms "without delay and without condition."The UN Security Council on Monday overwhelmingly adopted a resolution endorsing a US-backed cease-fire proposal that aims to end the eight-month Israel-Hamas war.
The Spin
The resolution's adoption is a majorsignificant success for US diplomacy, but doubts remain, as Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has already indicated that he will continue military operations until Hamas is defeated. Moreover, parts of the Israeli government reject elements of the plan, which is in line with what Hamas demanded in a previous round of failed negotiations and also provides for a two-state solution. The US must now convince not only Hamas but also Israel to seize the opportunity for peace.
While it now plays peacemaker, it was the US that used its veto power to block several earlier resolutions calling for an immediate Israeli-Hamas ceasefirecease-fire. OnlyAlso, due to international pressure did Washington abstainabstained from a March vote in March, enabling the adoption of a ceasefirecease-fire resolution. Meanwhile, another US veto blocked a Palestinian application for full UN membership. It can hardly be assumed that Washington will now pressure Israel to agree to the ceasefire resolution.
