Palestinians Reportedly Seek UN Resolutions as EU Lacks Consensus

Palestinian representatives are preparing a group of United Nations General Assembly resolutions for November while European Union governments have yet to agree on supporting them, according to a report published on November 6. The proposed texts remain under negotiation. Israel’s delegation to the UN is working with allies to soften their wording and limit support. The reported drafts address assistance to Palestinian refugees, protection of their property and income, and Israeli settlements. They are also expected to condemn construction tenders in the E1 area. Palestinian representatives are seeking an explicit declaration rejecting recognition of Israel’s presence in Judea and Samaria, also known as the West Bank, alongside a distinction between those areas and the rest of Israel. These are reported provisions of draft texts, rather than adopted General Assembly decisions. The EU’s 27 member states had not reached a common position after intensive discussions during the week, the report said. Palestinian representatives and European governments are negotiating the final wording. The Palestinians could still submit the resolutions to a vote without unified European backing, although no final decision to do so or exact voting date was reported. Ambassador Danny Danon said Israel’s delegation was cooperating closely with its allies against the diplomatic initiative. He accused Palestinian representatives of using the political circumstances to challenge Israel at the UN. The negotiations come as Israel works to establish its next government.