Over a lack of international support, the Palestinians have abandoned their request for a vote at the UN Security Council Tuesday on rejecting the US Mideast plan.
Introduced by Indonesia and Tunisia, the resolution risked not having nine out of 15 votes in its favour, the minimum required for adoption provided there is no veto by a permanent member.
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas is supposed to take part on Tuesday in a session on President Donald Trump’s January 28 plan, which paves the way for Israeli annexation of much of the West Bank but also allows for a demilitarised Palestinian state.
The sudden Palestinian withdrawal of their request came after the United States, a permanent member, proposed a series of amendments.
The proposals included that the United States would significantly alter the text to remove references to 1967 lines being the basis of peace.
It would also cut out a line stating that Jewish settlements built in the West Bank since 1967 are illegal, a position taken by virtually every country except the US and Israel.
The United States is also seeking to eliminate language that equated East Jerusalem with the occupied West Bank.
The Trump plan calls for recognition of the contested holy city as Israel’s undivided capital, while establishing a Palestinian capital on its outskirts.
Diplomats cast doubt on whether a vote could take place at a later date, considering the wide divergences in positions.
However they said that they had no reason to think Abbas’ appearance would be scrapped.
