The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, praised President Goodluck Jonathan Wednesday, after Nigeria pulled a last-minute surprise that helped thwart a resolution calling for an end to Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory by 2017.
The resolution, presented to the United Nations for approval, called for new talks based on territorial lines that existed before Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip in 1967.
The proposal was the culmination of three months of campaigning by the Palestinians at the UN, and was backed by 22 envoys from Arab states.
The Palestinians required nine votes from 15 permanent and non-permanent members of the UN Security Council.
Nigeria is currently one the 10 non-permanent members, with its tenure expiring in 2015. Chad and Rwanda are the other African members.
But Palestine received eight votes, short of one, during the vote which took place 11pm Nigerian time.
The United States and Australia voted against the resolution, while Russia, China, France, Luxembourg, Jordan, Argentina, Chile and Chad voted for the resolution.
Nigeria, Britain, South Korea, Rwanda and Lithuania abstained.
Nigeria’s role stood out because until shortly before the vote, diplomats had expected the resolution to get nine “yes” votes, with Nigeria believed to be in support.
But at the last minute, Nigeria’s envoy, Joy Ogwu, abstained from voting, echoing the position of the United States that the ultimate path to peace between Israel and Palestine lies “in a negotiated solution”.
Regardless of whether Palestine received nine votes, the resolution still stood no chance as U.S. would have deployed its veto powers as a permanent member to block it.
But analysts believe the U.S. sought to avoid that scenario as it would have angered Arab allies who are currently supporting a US-led international coalition against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, ISIS.
To save the U.S. from that awkward position, its Secretary of States, John Kerry, reached out to Nigeria to help block the move, the Times of Israel reported.
After the vote, U.S. envoy, Samantha Power, said “We voted against this resolution not because we are comfortable with the status quo. We voted against it because… peace must come from hard compromises that occur at the negotiating table.”
The Prime Minister, Mr. Netanyahu, also said he personally spoke to President Jonathan and received his assurance of support.
“I would like to voice appreciation and thanks to the United States and Australia, and also special appreciation for the president of Rwanda, my friend Paul Kagame, and the president of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan. I spoke with both of them. They told me and promised me, personally, that they would not support this resolution. They kept their word, and that’s what clinched this matter. I think this is very important for the state of Israel,” Mr. Netanyahu said.
Some Israeli media hailed the cordial relations between Mr. Jonathan and Mr. Netanyauhu, with the Times of Israel recalling how President Jonathan visited Israel during his last pilgrimage with a 20-member delegation, and how Mr. Netanyahu condoled with Nigeria after the Kano Mosque blast that killed more than 100 people.
Nigeria’s position on the complex Israel and Palestine issue has been that of neutrality for years, in the belief that any decision must be attained through negotiations.
Nigeria has maintained that policy in what analysts believe is informed by the government’s sensitivity to many factors including, not wanting to be seen as supporting Palestine’s Hamas, or opposing the United States.
A major factor also is the religious angle back home, with many Nigerian Muslims supporting Palestine, while there is also the Christianity affiliation between Nigeria and Israel. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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I don't know why you nigerian eye is bringing this kind of story up expecially now when there is tension between the two religions followers in the country
ReplyDeleteHelp me ask them o.
DeleteIn this day and age, you think the Nigerian press should suppress information/news? As if the the rest of the world press will suppress it too.
DeleteThis is sad considering the fact that the Palestinians are the most marginalized people on earth today. Their land has been occupied, their people have been deported, they have been caged and are being massacred like chickens, 90% of their infrastructure has been destroyed and they have been denied access to outside world for education or medical care by a Zionists regime whom the entire world gathered to save from Hitler. And all these against international law. Its on record that Israel alone has broken/disobeyed more UN resolutions than the entire countries of the world pit together. The criminal and lawless government of Israel, together with the USA, Britain, Australia and Canada, has turned Gaza into a weapons testing and experimenting ground killing Palestinians on a daily basis. We shall continue to lend our voice to the voiceless and hapless people of Palestine for as long as we live. Palestine is Arab.
ReplyDeleteWe have now known that Jonathan's hatred and phobia for Muslims is not only limited to Nigeria. Well he should know that hypocricy is a monster that often devour its owner. Its even more necessary than ever before to vote Jonathan out next year.
You talk and reason like a child! Please grow up! Don't be a child in an adult body!!
DeleteIf no be say today na new year, I for abuse yu well, grow up, go andget some sense, stop bringing religious bias. Into every issue
DeleteThis guy u get sense??? The crimes Palestinians commit is never shown in the media, only when isreal defends itself will all the human rights group start shouting
DeleteEvarfrank said the whole truth,you dont have to be in one religion or the other to support kick against what isreal is doing to the Palestinian,you just need to have a heart,i wish u people saying what he said is rubbish could watch what isreali does to the Palestinians through aljazeera and see the death of children and compare the thousands of people that was killed there to the tenths that was killed in isreal,but people judgemental when it comes to religion,they will never say the truth and those Israelis that you people are siding are not even Christians ;most dont know,but we should all know we will account of what we do on this earth
DeleteJonathan i hate you with passion. God will punish you.
ReplyDelete..... ALLAH will "BLESS" U.
DeleteHate is not of God ...it is of the devil. God will not punish anyone becos of your hate. Go to your father the devil for that request.
DeleteOur country is gone totally. People don't reason with their heads any more. They don't evn seek the counsel of God to speak like the sage of old. All I see is religious sentiment: how it has create rift amongst us, a chasm that's unimaginable. And instead of unity, we're being polarized than ever. No!!! This is never and will never be the intention of God us.
ReplyDeleteGod has spoken through His prophets in the Bible that Isreal; after they have been scattered for their sins of Idolatry into different nations of the earth they shall return from their captivity to their waste land. God promised to restore them and return them back to all their waste cities; that His covenant with Abraham shall not fail. Therefore, even if Nigeria vote in favour of Palestinian Statehood , the implementation will not work. Only the council of the Lord will stand. Till the world end no nation can defeat Isreal, again this is the word of God. People are more carried away by the mundane everyday happening, completely oblivious of what the Bible has for told over 4000 years ago through Prophet Isaiah. All Jews shall return to occupy their land. Read Isaiah 60 : 1- 22 for more emphasis. No Nation can defeat Isreal, God has promised these people prosperity and victory over their enemies where ever they are... God is with them. Remember Egypt the largest Arab nation went on war against Isreal on a sabbat day in 1960s but Egypt almost got defeated if not for the intervention of UN. In 2014 Hamas fired over 2000 rocket into Isreal and it was all intercepted by Isreale superior technology,US even abandoned them under Obamas leadership yet they thrived. Isreal is surrounded by Enemies yet undefeated. Do you think these people are ordinary? No its the covenant of God over them... any nation that rise Against God's people will see their very end.
ReplyDelete