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Middle East conflict

UN Security Council may vote on Palestine resolution in November — Russian diplomat

Palestinians are very disappointed by the lack of progress in the negotiations process, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said

UN Security Council EPA/ANDREW GOMBERT

UN Security Council

© EPA/ANDREW GOMBERT

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Israeli PM orders to construct over 1,000 new housing units in East Jerusalem

VIENNA, October 29. /TASS/. The UN Security Council may vote on the resolution on Palestinian lands next month, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov told journalists on Wednesday.

“Palestinians are very disappointed by the lack of progress in the negotiations process and that the settlement activity is continuing on the occupied territories. As we understand, they see no other way than turning to the UN,” the Russian diplomat said.

Gatilov said although it is still unknown when the 15-member council will gather, “such a vote is likely to be held amid the current situation,” giving no further details.

Earlier this week, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans to construct over 1,000 new housing units in populous Jewish neighborhoods of East Jerusalem. Netanyahu has also ordered preparations for implementing infrastructure projects in the West Bank, including the construction of 12 new roads to be used by both settlers and Palestinians.

In early October, Palestine, together with Arab countries, prepared a UN Security Council draft resolution that sets November 2016 as a deadline for ending the Israeli occupation.

The draft resolution urges Israel’s earliest withdrawal from all Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem. It says Jerusalem must be the capital of two states and calls for solving the Palestinian refugees issue.

The document also urges the comprehensive settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on the UN resolutions, Madrid agreements, including the “land for peace” principle, the Arab peace initiative and the roadmap of the Middle East Quartet.

Palestine’s draft resolution also “demands an end to all Israeli military operations, reprisals, forced displacement of civilians, and all acts of violence and hostilities.”

In 2012, the United Nations General Assembly changed Palestine's "entity" status to "non-member observer state," affirming the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.

A total of 134 member states of the United Nations have recognized the State of Palestine by September 2013. Palestine was officially acknowledged as a sovereign state by the Soviet Union in November 1988.

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