United Nations, Dec 17 (AFP) The UN Security Council isconsidering a draft resolution that would affirm that anychange to the status of Jerusalem has no legal effect and mustbe rescinded, in response to the US decision to recognize thecity as Israel's capital.
Egypt circulated the draft text today and diplomats saidthe council could vote on the proposed measure as early asMonday.
Breaking with the international consensus, US PresidentDonald Trump this month announced that he would recognizeJerusalem as Israel's capital and move the US embassy therefrom Tel Aviv, sparking protests and strong condemnation.
The draft resolution obtained by AFP stresses thatJerusalem is an issue "to be resolved through negotiations"and expresses "deep regret at recent decisions concerning thestatus of Jerusalem", without specifically mentioning Trump'smove.
It affirms that "any decisions and actions which purportto have altered the character, status or demographiccomposition" of Jerusalem "have no legal effect, are null andvoid and must be rescinded."Diplomats said they expected the United States to use itsveto power to block the measure while most, if not all, of the14 other council members were expected to back the draftresolution.
The status of Jerusalem is one of the most controversialissues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Israel seized control of the eastern part of the city inthe 1967 Middle East war and sees the whole of Jerusalem asits undivided capital. The Palestinians view the east as thecapital of their future state.
The United States found itself isolated at the SecurityCouncil last week when all 14 other members including alliesBritain, France and Italy condemned its decision.
Several UN resolutions call on Israel to withdraw fromterritory seized during the 1967 war and have reaffirmed theneed to end the occupation of that land.
In 1980, the council adopted a resolution stating that"all legislative and administrative measures and actions takenby Israel, the occupying power, which purport to alter thecharacter and status of the Holy City of Jerusalem have nolegal validity."The United States abstained in that vote, allowing themeasure to pass. (AFP)CHT.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.