New York : The Palestinian Authority is pressing for a vote by January 19 in the United Nations Security Council on a resolution demanding a halt to Israeli colony construction, an action that may force the Obama administration to cast its first UN veto.
"This is high time for us to dig our heels in and say to Israel that you have to budge, that you are not going to get away with continuing violations of international law," Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour said in an interview. The colonies "in additional to being illegal, are an obstacle to peace. We want to remove that obstacle."
Mansour spoke after joining a delegation of Arab envoys who met with representatives of eight Security Council member governments, including India, Brazil, South Africa and Nigeria.
India's Ambassador Hardeep Singh Puri said after the closed meeting that no opposition to the draft resolution was expressed.
Isolate the US
Support from Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia is also likely, according to diplomats. That would give the Palestinians 14 votes for adoption, isolate the US in opposition and may force the Obama administration to cast its first Security Council veto. Mansour said January 19 was chosen because the 15-member council is scheduled to hold a debate on the Middle East conflict that day.
The Palestinians "are likely to get a great deal of support," said Robert Danin, former aide to Tony Blair, the Middle East envoy for the Quartet, which is comprised of the US, the UN Nations, Russia and the European Union.
"It is going to be a difficult call for the Obama administration, which is not inclined to want to veto resolutions," Danin said in an interview.
