Palestinians to submit anti-settlement resolution to UN Security Council

"Just hours after the Palestinian leadership said it plans to move forward a UN Security Council resolution condemning settlements, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he expected US President Barack Obama not to support action against Israel at the world body.

'[We will] begin to submit a resolution condemning settlements to the UN Security Council in the coming days,' Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki told the Voice of Palestine, the official PA radio station. Palestinian leaders including PA President Mahmoud Abbas have said on numerous occasions over the past few months that the Palestinian leadership intends to submit a UNSC resolution.

If such a resolution is brought before the Security Council, all eyes will be on Obama to see whether he will direct the US to vote for it, abstain, or cast a veto. In 2011 Obama vetoed a UNSC resolution condemning the settlements. By contrast, in 1979, the US – under then president Jimmy Carter – abstained on an anti-settlement vote, allowing it to pass.

PLO Executive Committee Member Ahmad Majdalani told The Jerusalem Post on Monday that he believes the US will abstain..."