U.N. Security Council vote likely on Palestinian statehood resolution

Gabe Friedman

NEW YORK (JTA) — The U.N. Security Council may vote as early as Tuesday evening on a proposed resolution setting a deadline for a peace deal with Israel aimed at a full Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank by late 2017.

Representatives of the Arab countries in the United Nations claimed Tuesday they had garnered the required nine-vote majority within the 15-member Security Council to pass the resolution.

However, the United States is expected to exercise its veto in the Security Council, scuttling the resolution. The United States believes a final settlement between Israel and the Palestinians must be negotiated by the parties themselves.

The Security Council is scheduled to meet to discuss the proposal and possibly vote at 5 P.M. EST on Tuesday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly was working the phones Tuesday in an effort to head of yes votes.

Security Council members expected to support the resolution include Russia, China, France, Northern Ireland, Argentina, Jordan, Chad, South Africa, Chile, and Luxembourg, Haaretz reported, with the United States, Britain and Australia expected to oppose the vote. It’s unclear which way Rwanda, Lithuania and Nigeria would vote.