NEW YORK (JTA) — The U.N. Security Council passed a resolution endorsing a key Quartet strategy on Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking.
“Lasting peace can only be based on an enduring commitment to mutual recognition, freedom from violence, incitement, and terror, and the two-state solution, building upon previous agreements and obligations,” states the measure, which was passed Tuesday.
Spearheaded by the United States and Russia, two of the four members of the Quartet grouping of sponsors of Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking, the resolution passed by a 14-0 vote in the Security Council, with Libya abstaining. The other two members of the Quartet are the European Union and the United Nations.
Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Gabriela Shalev, hailed the resolution as an endorsement of Israel’s policy of not negotiating with Hamas or other rejectionist Palestinian parties unless and until they commit to three key conditions: renounce terrorism, accept previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements and recognize Israel’s right to exist.
"We welcome all kinds of support," Shalev said of the resolution at a luncheon briefing with reporters organized by The Israel Project. "We see it as support of the international community to the peace process, which is very fragile."
