The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin
Netanyahu, praised President
Goodluck Jonathan Wednesday, after
Nigeria pulled a last-minute surprise
that helped thwart a resolution
calling for an end to Israeli
occupation of Palestinian territory by
2017.
The resolution, presented to the
United Nations for approval, called for
new talks based on territorial lines
that existed before Israel’s
occupation of the West Bank, East
Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip in
1967.
The proposal was the culmination of
three months of campaigning by the
Palestinians at the UN, and was
backed by 22 envoys from Arab
states.
The Palestinians required nine votes
from 15 permanent and non-
permanent members of the UN
Security Council.
Nigeria is currently one the 10 non-
permanent members, with its tenure
expiring in 2015. Chad and Rwanda
are the other African members.
But Palestine received eight votes,
short of one, during the vote which
took place 11pm Nigerian time.
The United States and Australia voted
against the resolution, while Russia,
China, France, Luxembourg, Jordan,
Argentina, Chile and Chad voted for
the resolution.
Nigeria, Britain, South Korea, Rwanda
and Lithuania abstained.
Nigeria’s role stood out because until
shortly before the vote, diplomats had
expected the resolution to get nine
“yes” votes, with Nigeria believed to
be in support.
But at the last minute, Nigeria’s
envoy, Joy Ogwu, abstained from
voting, echoing the position of the
United States that the ultimate path
to peace between Israel and
Palestine lies “in a negotiated
solution”.
Regardless of whether Palestine
received nine votes, the resolution
still stood no chance as U.S. would
have deployed its veto powers as a
permanent member to block it.
But analysts believe the U.S. sought
to avoid that scenario as it would
have angered Arab allies who are
currently supporting a US-led
international coalition against the
Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, ISIS.
To save the U.S. from that awkward
position, its Secretary of States, John
Kerry, reached out to Nigeria to help
block the move, the Times of Israel
reported.
After the vote, U.S. envoy, Samantha
Power, said “We voted against this
resolution not because we are
comfortable with the status quo. We
voted against it because… peace
must come from hard compromises
that occur at the negotiating table.”
The Prime Minister, Mr. Netanyahu,
also said he personally spoke to
President Jonathan and received his
assurance of support.
“I would like to voice appreciation
and thanks to the United States and
Australia, and also special
appreciation for the president of
Rwanda, my friend Paul Kagame, and
the president of Nigeria, Goodluck
Jonathan. I spoke with both of them.
They told me and promised me,
personally, that they would not
support this resolution. They kept
their word, and that’s what clinched
this matter. I think this is very
important for the state of Israel,” Mr.
Netanyahu said.
Some Israeli media hailed the cordial
relations between Mr. Jonathan and
Mr. Netanyauhu, with the Times of
Israel recalling how President
Jonathan visited Israel during his
last pilgrimage with a 20-member
delegation, and how Mr. Netanyahu
condoled with Nigeria after the Kano
Mosque blast that killed more than
100 people.
Nigeria’s position on the complex
Israel and Palestine issue has been
that of neutrality for years, in the
belief that any decision must be
attained through negotiations.
Nigeria has maintained that policy in
what analysts believe is informed by
the government’s sensitivity to many
factors including, not wanting to be
seen as supporting Palestine’s
Hamas, or opposing the United
States.
A major factor also is the religious
angle back home, with many Nigerian
Muslims supporting Palestine, while
there is also the Christianity affiliation
between Nigeria and Israel.




www.premiumtimesng.com/news/174016-israels-netanyahu-hails-jonathan-nigeria-pulls-last-minute-surprise-block-palestinian-un-resolution.html

oh
abeg make person summarize

Ik.

Hmmm

Tbaba1234 and his muslim brotherhood must not see and read this thread.

GEJ wan take the vote bribe Israel so them go sell gun to him for after election violence, so him and mama P go dey take am shoot people on their way to Otueke.

Chanchit:
GEJ wan take the vote bribe Israel so them go sell gun to him for after election violence, so him and mama P go dey take am shoot people on their way to Otueke.

Don't tell me you are a comedian.