US envoy to the United Nations Nicky Healy said the draft resolution “hinders peace,” adding that Washington “is committed to a lasting peace based on a two-state solution.”
For his part, British Ambassador to the United Nations, Matthew Raikroft, said that East Jerusalem will remain a part of the Palestinian territories, pointing out that London will not transfer the British embassy to Jerusalem.
The British delegate stressed that “the status of Jerusalem must be determined by direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.”
France’s representative to the United Nations, François de Lutter, expressed his country’s regret over the veto, pointing out that President Trump’s decisions will not change the common ground on which peace efforts should be based.
The United Nations Special Coordinator for the peace process said during the meeting that “unilateral steps could threaten the two-state solution,” calling on Israel to stop its illegal settlement activities.
“Israeli forces have killed 22 Palestinians in recent months,” Mladenov said, adding that “the increase in violence since Trump announced his decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.”
The Special Coordinator stressed that “peace is still based on a two-state solution” and that “the status of Jerusalem must be among the issues of a final solution.”
“All unilateral steps will escalate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” the Russian envoy said.
All 14 members of the Council agreed to the Egyptian draft resolution, considering the Trump decision on Jerusalem to be illegal, contrary to international law and international legitimacy and impeding peace and stability in the region.
The Palestinian presidency denounced today the American veto against the Egyptian draft resolution on Jerusalem, stressing that this is a mockery of the international community.