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Middle East latest: US blocks UN from recognising a Palestinian state after membership vote veto

The US has vetoed a motion that would see Palestine join the United Nations as a full member. The move essentially denies Palestine's recognition as a state in the eyes of the UN.

Thursday 18 April 2024 23:40, UK

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As we've been reporting this evening, the UN Security Council has not passed a resolution recommending Palestinian membership, after the US vetoed the motion.

These images show members discussing and voting on the motion, with Robert Wood, United States' ambassador to the UN, the only person to lift their hand when members were asked if they opposed the resolution. 

Some reaction from Palestine now.

The Palestinian presidency has condemned the US veto of a Security Council draft resolution that recommended a full United Nations membership of a Palestinian state. 

The presidency said in a statement the veto was "unfair, unethical and unjustified." 

The deputy permanent observer of the state of Palestine to the UN said praised the 12 members who did vote for the motion: "Thank you to all those who rise to the historical moment."

"We are not deterred in our pursuit for Palestinian freedom and independence," Majed Bamya said. 

The Israeli foreign minister has praised the US for exercising its right to veto a motion that would have seen Palestine become a member of the international organisation. 

"I commend the United States for vetoing this shameful proposal, which was rejected today at the UN Security Council," Israel Katz said in the aftermath of the vote. 

"It is outrageous that even half a year after the 7 October massacre, the UN Security Council failed to condemn Hamas horrific crimes," he added. 

The US has vetoed a motion that would see Palestine join the United Nations as a full member. 

While this shouldn't come as any great surprise, the motion has now been formally vetoed by a permanent member- meaning it cannot pass. 

The move essentially denies Palestine's recognition as a state in the eyes of the UN. 

Twelve countries voted in favour of granting full membership to Palestine, two abstained and the US voted against the motion. 

The Palestinian Authority, based in the West Bank, is currently a non-member observer state at the UN - a position granted by the 193-member General Assembly in 2012.

• Sierra Leone
• South Korea

Abstentions

• Switzerland

Votes against

Why did the US veto? 

We received an explanation from a state department spokesman earlier today. 

"Premature actions in New York (site of the UN headquarters), even with the best intentions, will not achieve statehood for the Palestinian people," Vedant Patel told reporters.

"Specifically, there are unresolved questions as to whether the applicant (Palestine) can meet criteria to be considered as a state," he added. 

He pointed to Hamas's continued grip on power in the enclave as one of the principal reasons for Washington's refusal to back the motion. 

"We've long called on the Palestinian Authority to undertake the necessary reforms to establish the attributes of readiness for statehood and note that Hamas, which is as you all know, a terrorist organisation is currently exerting power and influence in Gaza, which would be an integral part of the envisioned state in this resolution. 

"And for that reason, the United States is voting 'no' on this proposed Security Council resolution."

A former Israeli prime minister believes that Iran has formally declared war on Israel, after a massive drone and missile attack at the weekend. 

Ehud Olmert told Sky's  lead world news presenter  Yalda Hakim  he thought that "strangely or fortunately enough, the event on Saturday night turned out to be a total failure for Iran and a great success for Israel and allies".

Watch part of his interview here...

Protests in Tel Aviv calling for the immediate release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas in Gaza are continuing.

Pressure has been mounting on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu internally to secure the release of around 130 people still being held captive by the group. 

But ceasefire talks have largely stalled after Hamas's repeated refusal to agree to fresh Israeli terms. 

Building on our 5.34pm post, we've now received a readout of the US-Israeli meeting on a potential Rafah offensive. 

"The two sides agreed on the shared objective to see Hamas defeated in Rafah," a White House statement said. 

"US participants expressed concerns with various courses of action in Rafah, and Israeli participants agreed to take these concerns into account and to have further follow up discussions between experts, overseen by the SCG (strategic consultative group)," it added. 

"Participants will meet again soon," it concluded. 

Rafah is the only major city in Gaza yet to be the subject of a ground assault by Israeli troops, but hundreds of thousands of displaced civilians crammed into the city have still been subjected to airstrikes over the past few months. 

Mr Biden has consistently urged Israel not to conduct a large-scale offensive in Rafah to avoid more Palestinian civilian casualties in Gaza, where Hamas-led health authorities say nearly 34,000 people have been killed since October last year. 

Recent Israeli actions to allow more aid to get into Gaza are not enough and more needs to be done, the US state department has said. 

Deputy spokesperson for the department, Vedant Patel, said the situation in Gaza was "dire" despite some progress being made.

"There has been some measurable progress that we've seen when it comes to humanitarian aid getting into Gaza," Mr Patel told a media briefing. 

"But the circumstances within Gaza continue to be dire and more absolutely needs to be done."

By James Matthews , US correspondent 

The Palestinian Authority first sought full membership at the United Nations in 2011. 

If there hasn't been a right time for accession since then, that time certainly isn't now.

Such is the decisive view of the United States - decisive, because the US veto at the UN Security Council means it won't happen.

Membership would, effectively, recognise a Palestinian state.

As the arguments were laid out at the UN in New York, the American rationale was laid out in a state department briefing in Washington.

It was always complicated  -  now throw in the timing and circumstances. 

Spokesperson Vedant Patel said: "Note that Hamas… a terrorist organisation, is currently exerting power and influence in Gaza which will be an integral part of the individual state in this resolution and, for that reason, the United States is voting 'no'."

US opposition had been well-trailed in the run-up to the chamber vote.

Its long-held position is that the UN isn't the place for such a move - that, while it supports a two-state solution in the Middle east, Palestinian statehood should be anchored in a deal negotiated with Israel.

They are words easily written, harder to realise.  

The prospect of dialogue, let alone a deal, between Israel and the Palestinians is currently non-existent.

Israel's view is predominant in Joe Biden's thinking on matters Palestinian, and this is no different.

Israel's UN ambassador Gilad Erdan said: "If the Security Council recommends full membership for the Palestinian Authority that incites and funds terror with no control over its territory, it deserves to be called the UN's 'Terror Council' not 'Security Council."

It isn't a view you’d hear from Biden, publicly at least, but the US President doesn't need reminding of well-catalogued weakness of a Palestinian Authority seen as corrupt, unpopular and unable to wield the influence that Western diplomats wish it could.

The Palestinian view was put to the Security Council by envoy Dr Ziad Abu Amr.  

He told members: "Admitting the state of Palestine to the UN would lift a portion of the historical injustice that successive generations of the Palestinian people have suffered and continue to suffer."

The view resonates with the bulk of his audience.

Not for the first time, the United States finds itself out of step with majority world opinion inside the UN Security Council chamber.

It almost certainly won't be the last. 

In the shadow of growing conflict, a US president with enough on his plate is picking his fights carefully.  

As we reported a short time ago, the US will veto a motion that promised to see Palestine join the United Nations as a full member (see 6.17pm post). 

We've now received a confirmation from Washington and an explanation as to why from a state department spokesman. 

"And for that reason, the United States is voting no on this proposed Security Council resolution."

The move, which has been widely expected from the Israeli ally, will effectively block the world body from recognising the Palestinian state.

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April 14, 2024 - Iran's attack on Israel

By Jerome Taylor, Heather Chen , James Legge, Sophie Tanno, Emma Tucker , Kaanita Iyer , Paul LeBlanc , Catherine Nicholls, Maureen Chowdhury , Antoinette Radford and Eve Rothenberg, CNN

Our live coverage of Iran's attack on Israel has moved  here .

India calls on Iran to release 17 Indian crew members on board seized container ship 

From CNN's Sandi Sidhu in Hong Kong 

India has called on Iran to release 17 Indian crew members on board a container ship seized by Iran on Saturday. 

Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said that he spoke to his Iranian counterpart Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and "took up the release of 17 Indian crew members of MSC Aries."

Four Filipino seamen were also on board the ship, according to the Philippine Department of Migrant Workers.

The department said it was working with its government, the ship owner, and the operator to release the captured seafarers.

On Saturday, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards seized an Israeli-linked container ship in a helicopter operation near the Strait of Hormuz, state news agency IRNA reported. 

Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) said there were 25 crew members on board.

Japanese prime minister condemns Iran's attack on Israel

From CNN's Junko Ogura in Tokyo 

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Sunday said he "strongly condemns" Iran's missile and drone attack on Israel.

"(The attack) further aggravates the current situation in the Middle East. We are deeply concerned and strongly condemn such an escalation," Kishida told reporters.

Kishida said Japan would continue diplomatic efforts to "prevent the situation from worsening and to calm the situation down," and "respond in cooperation with other countries."

Blinken calls British and German counterparts following Iran's attack on Israel

From CNN's Philip Wang 

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with his counterparts from the United Kingdom and Germany on Sunday following Iran's attack on Israel, according to readouts from the State Department. 

All parties agreed "the importance of condemning Iran's attack in the strongest possible terms and preventing further escalation," the readout said. 

Blinken earlier held phone calls with his counterparts from Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia , in which he emphasized the importance of avoiding escalation in the Middle East and of "a coordinated diplomatic response."

US forces destroyed more than 80 attack drones from Iran and Yemen, Central Command says

From CNN's Philip Wang

US forces intercepted more than 80 one-way attack drones and at least six ballistic missiles from Iran and Yemen during its attack on Israel, according to a statement from the Central Command.

The operation included destroying a ballistic missile on its launcher vehicle and seven drones on the ground in Iranian-backed Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, CENTCOM said. 

"Iran's continued unprecedented, malign, and reckless behavior endangers regional stability and the safety of U.S. and coalition forces," the statement added. 

Israeli and Iranian ambassadors trade accusations during UN Security Council session

From Abel Alvarado in Atlanta

Israel and Iran’s United Nations ambassadors condemned each other’s actions during Sunday’s UN Security Council emergency session called to address Iran’s attack on Israel.

Israel’s UN ambassador Gilad Erdan said Iran "must be stopped before it drives the world to a point of no return, to a regional war that can escalate to a world war." Erdan accused Iran of seeking world domination and that its attack proved that Tehran "cares nothing, nothing for Islam or Muslims" before pulling out a tablet to show a video of Israel intercepting Iranian drones above Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Erdan called on the UN Security Council to designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terror organization.

“Action must be taken now, not for Israel's sake, not for the region's sake, but for the world's sake. Stop Iran today."

Iran’s UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani said his country’s operation was "entirely in the exercise of Iran’s inherent right to self-defense, as outlined in Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations and recognized by international law."

Iravani said:

"This concluded action was necessary and proportionate," adding that the operation was “precise and only targeted military objectives” to reduce the potential of escalation and to prevent civilian harm. “Iran is never seeking to contribute to the spillover of the conflict in the region, nor does it to escalate or spread the tension to the entire region," he said.

Tehran’s attack had been anticipated since  a suspected Israeli strike  on an Iranian diplomatic complex in Syria earlier this month.

Iravani added Iran has “no intention of engaging in conflict with the US in the region” but warned Iran will use its “inherent right to respond proportionately” should the US initiate a military operation against “Iran, its citizens or its security.”

Israeli war cabinet says it's ready to respond to Iran's attack but delays immediate action. Here's the latest

From CNN staff

The hours-long Israeli war cabinet meeting ended Sunday night without a decision on how Israel will respond to Iran’s missile and drone attack , an Israeli official said.

The cabinet is determined to respond — but has yet to decide on the timing and scope and the official said the military has been tasked with coming up with additional options for a response.

Separately, a senior Biden administration official told reporters that an Israeli official told the United States that it's not looking to significantly escalate the showdown with Iran.

CNN analyst Barak Ravid said Israeli ministers Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot advocated for swift action, but US President Joe Biden's phone call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu led to a decision to delay the response until the next day. 

Here are the latest headlines:

• Retaliation is over, Iran told US: Iran privately messaged the United States that its retaliation against Israel had concluded, echoing what Tehran said publicly, according to a senior administration official. Late Saturday, Iran said its attack on Israel is a response to Israel's strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, and "the matter can be deemed concluded." However, President Ebrahim Raisi said any “new aggression against the interests of the Iranian nation will be met with a heavier and regrettable response,” according to Iran’s state news channel IRIB. 
• United Nations response: UN Secretary-General António Guterres  called for a de-escalation of violence after Iran’s attack. Guterres said the United Nations and member countries have a “shared responsibility” to engage “all parties concerned to prevent further escalation.” He also called for a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict. “Neither the region nor the world can afford more war,” he said.
• G7 and others: Amid a flurry of diplomatic activity in response to Iran's attack, the G7 nations said they would work together to "stabilize the situation" in the Middle East, according to a statement from Biden. Also, Jordan summoned Iran's ambassador in Amman on Sunday after it intercepted Iranian drones over the country.
• Meanwhile in Gaza: As thousands of Palestinians were turned away from returning to their homes in northern Gaza on Sunday, a 5-year-old girl was shot in the head by Israeli soldiers, her mother said. Video showed a man carrying a 5-year-old girl named Sally Abu Laila, who was bleeding from her head, with people crowding around her in panic trying to cover her wound.

Also on Sunday:

• Israel decided to lift its restrictions on large gatherings and to reopen schools on Monday.
• The US Department of Homeland Security has not identified any “specific or credible threats” to the US since Iran attacked Israel.

Blinken calls Turkish, Egyptian, Jordanian and Saudi counterparts following Iran's attack 

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday spoke with his counterparts in Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia following Iran's attacks in Israel, according to readouts from the State Department. 

During his phone calls, Blinken emphasized the importance of avoiding escalation in the region and the importance of "a coordinated diplomatic response."

In his conversation with Jordan and Egypt, Blinken also underlined the significance of achieving an "enduring end to the crisis in Gaza."

Iran will be held responsible if any action is taken against the US or Israel, deputy ambassador warns

From CNN’s Abel Alvarado

The United States warned Iran against taking any action against the US or Israel during the UN Security Council emergency session over Iran’s attack on Israel.

“Let me be clear, if Iran or its proxies take actions against the US or further action against Israel, Iran will be held responsible,” US Deputy Ambassador to the UN Robert Wood said Sunday.

The United States is “not seeking escalation, our actions have been purely defensive in nature,” adding that the “best way to prevent such escalation is an unambiguous condemnation of the council of Iran’s unprecedented large-scale attack,” he said.

The envoy reiterated US support for Israel and condemned Iran’s attack. “Iran’s intent was to cause significant damage and death in Israel,” Wood said.

Wood also said the UN Security Council had an “obligation to not let Iran’s actions go unanswered.”

“For far too long, Iran has flagrantly violated its international legal obligations,” he said before listing occasions Iran has violated UN Security Council resolutions and international law.

Wood accused Iran of being in a “broad sense complicit” of the October 7 attack on Israel by providing “significant funding and training for the military wing of Hamas.”

He added the US will explore "additional measures to hold Iran accountable here in the UN.”

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Courtney love says taylor swift isn't important, disses beyoncé too, courtney love says taylor swift isn't important ... craps on beyoncé too.

Courtney Love ain't showin' much love for Taylor Swift -- in fact, she's got some harsh words for her ... not to mention for Beyoncé and a lot of other ladies in the modern pop space.

The alternative rocker made her controversial remarks in a recent interview with The Standard , first zeroing in on Taylor by calling her "not important." Love accused Taylor of being a "safe space for girls" and the Madonna of this generation.

She then ends her thoughts by saying T-Swift is "not interesting as an artist."

Then, Love showed her disdain for Madonna, saying, "I don’t like her and she doesn’t like me." You may recall, the two had a disastrous interaction at MTV's 1995 Video Music Awards while Madonna was being interviewed by reporter Kurt Loder .

Moving on to Beyoncé, Love said she didn't care for the singer's new hit country album, "Cowboy Carter," but was down with the record's symbolism of Black women entering spaces once dominated by only white women.

As a concept, I love it,” Love said, adding, “I just don’t like [Beyonce's] music."

Then Love took aim at Lana Del Rey , explaining she was once "great," but she should now "take seven years off" after her 2023 cover of the famous John Denver song, "Take Me Home Country Roads."

Love says while it's wonderful there are so many successful female entertainers today, many of them are simply becoming clichés and clones of one another.

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