The General Assembly resolutions, backed by more than 160 countries, were a repeat of an annual ritual timed with the November 29 anniversary of the 1947 resolution dividing the British Mandate into an Arab and Israeli state.
Eight countries, including the United States, voted against the six resolutions, some of which referred to Israel's "illegal settlement activities" and demanded that Israel stop construction of the security fence. They also called on Israel to withdraw from the Golan Heights, Judea and Samaria, including parts of Jerusalem.
Israeli U.N. Ambassador Dan Gillerman said the votes "hijacked" the anniversary of the 1947 resolution. Gillerman and American Jewish leaders two months expressed hope that progress was being made into lessening the U.N.'s anti-Israel stance. "It is very disappointing that the very positive changes in the region, such as Israel's withdrawal from Gaza, seem to have absolutely no effect on this ongoing tedious ritual," Gillerman said.
Referring to the American votes against the resolutions condemning Israel, Palestinian Authority (PA) ambassador to the U.N., Riyad Mansour, accused the United States of "shielding Israel" from U.N. demands that Israel withdraw to the 1949 armistice lines. Mansour last week also told U.N. Secretary General Kofi Anan there is a "conspiracy" to abolish several of the aid programs that he declared "should remain until Israeli occupation ends."
The U.S. has stated a desire to trim down the U.N. budget, which includes funds for its large observer force in Israel and aid to the Palestinian Authority (PA) through agencies such as Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, and the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices in the Occupied Territories.
The PA’s anti-Israel positions in the United Nations have drawn support from Arab Americans. Naseer Aruri, professor emeritus at the University of Massachusetts, accused Israel and the U.S. of conducting a campaign aimed at overturning U.N. resolutions that "define and enshrine Palestinian national and legal rights."
Eight countries, including the United States, voted against the six resolutions, some of which referred to Israel's "illegal settlement activities" and demanded that Israel stop construction of the security fence. They also called on Israel to withdraw from the Golan Heights, Judea and Samaria, including parts of Jerusalem.
Israeli U.N. Ambassador Dan Gillerman said the votes "hijacked" the anniversary of the 1947 resolution. Gillerman and American Jewish leaders two months expressed hope that progress was being made into lessening the U.N.'s anti-Israel stance. "It is very disappointing that the very positive changes in the region, such as Israel's withdrawal from Gaza, seem to have absolutely no effect on this ongoing tedious ritual," Gillerman said.
Referring to the American votes against the resolutions condemning Israel, Palestinian Authority (PA) ambassador to the U.N., Riyad Mansour, accused the United States of "shielding Israel" from U.N. demands that Israel withdraw to the 1949 armistice lines. Mansour last week also told U.N. Secretary General Kofi Anan there is a "conspiracy" to abolish several of the aid programs that he declared "should remain until Israeli occupation ends."
The U.S. has stated a desire to trim down the U.N. budget, which includes funds for its large observer force in Israel and aid to the Palestinian Authority (PA) through agencies such as Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, and the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices in the Occupied Territories.
The PA’s anti-Israel positions in the United Nations have drawn support from Arab Americans. Naseer Aruri, professor emeritus at the University of Massachusetts, accused Israel and the U.S. of conducting a campaign aimed at overturning U.N. resolutions that "define and enshrine Palestinian national and legal rights."