By NNN-KUNA,
United Nations : The Arab group of states at the United Nations will mull Thursday on a draft UN Security Council resolution to force Israel into halting the Jewish settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The draft, pushed by Saudi Arabia, aims to protect the Palestinian territories especially in the holy city of Jerusalem, an Arab diplomat told KUNA on Wednesday. If approved, the draft resolution will be tabled to the UNSC next week, the diplomat said.
The move is a reaction to the plan announced by Israel in May to build 800 new settlements in East Jerusalem counter to international conventions and rules, he pointed out.
The UNSC has passed so far 10 resolutions against the Jewish settlements, the first of which was Resolution No. 252 for 1968.
The new draft resolution calls for pressure on Israel to force it into halting the settlement expansion immediately and remove the existing settlements, he noted.
It calls for steps to prevent Israel from confiscating Palestinian territories, razing their farmland and demolishing their homes under any pretext.
It also calls on the UN agencies to offer all possible humanitarian and economic assistance to the Palestinian people.
It asks the UN Secretary-General to follow up the implementation of the possible resolution and report to the UNSC at an early time, the diplomat added, voicing hope the the UNSC members would approve the draft in next week’s vote.