Obama Administration Stands with Israel in UNSC against Unilateral Palestinian State Declaration

Jason Attermann — July 26, 2011 – 6:38 pm | Barack Obama | Foreign Policy | Israel Comments (1) Add a comment

U.S. Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Rosemary DiCarlo delivered remarks today to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) during its monthly Middle East session. DiCarlo outlined President Barack Obama’s Middle East policies, specifically and emphatically urging the other UNSC member states to reject any Palestinian effort to unilaterally declare a state.

DiCarlo reiterated the Obama Administration’s firm opposition to any Palestinian attempt to unilaterally seek statehood:

Let there be no doubt: symbolic actions to isolate Israel at the United Nations in September will not create an independent Palestinian state. The United States will not support unilateral campaigns at the United Nations in September or any other time.

A viable and sustainable peace agreement can only be achieved by mutual agreement of the parties themselves. Only through serious and responsible negotiations can the parties achieve the shared goal of two states for two peoples, with a secure, Jewish state of Israel living side by side in peace and security with an independent, contiguous, and viable state of Palestine.

This is the goal. This is the vision. But there are no short-cuts. We call again on all member states to encourage the parties to take the constructive actions to promote peace-and to avoid actions that could undermine trust, prejudge negotiations, or place the temptations of symbolism over the hard work of reaching agreement.

DiCarlo also condemned Hamas’ “path of terror and rejection” and urged for captured soldier Gilad Shalit to be freed:

[A]s President Obama has made clear, Palestinian leaders will not achieve peace or prosperity for their people if Hamas insists on a path of terror and rejection. Palestinian leaders must also take further steps to combat incitement to violence. And Hamas must immediately and unconditionally release Gilad Shalit, who has now suffered in captivity for more than five years.

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