Nigeria's action spoke volumes, as it is reported
that just before the decision, diplomats were under
the impression that Nigeria would vote "yes". A
Palestinian source involved in the negotiations told
the Guardian: “Even half an hour before the vote,
Nigeria indicated it was committed to voting for
the resolution. We knew that Rwanda, South Korea
and Australia would not back it, but we believed
Nigeria was on board.”


A United Nations resolution, calling for an end to
Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory by 2017,
was shot down on Wednesday.
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan and Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
The resolution, which urged new talks regarding
Palestinian territory prior to Israel's occupation,
was the product of three months worth of effort
and campaigning by Palestine, and supported by
22 Arab states.


This efforts proved fruitless today, when at the last
minute, Nigeria broke its traditionally neutral
stance and backed out of supporting Palestine.
Palestine needed nine votes from the 15 members
of the UN Security Council, both permanent and
non-permanent. Until 2015, Nigeria is one of the
10 non-permanent members.
Palestine received eight of the needed nine votes.
The US and Australia stood against the resolution,
while Russia, China, France, Luxembourg, Jordan,
Argentina, Chile and Chad voted in its favor. Britain,
South Korea, Rwanda, Lithuania, and Nigeria
notably abstained.


Nigeria's action spoke volumes, as it is reported
that just before the decision, diplomats were under
the impression that Nigeria would vote "yes".
A Palestinian source involved in the negotiations
told the Guardian: “Even half an hour before the
vote, Nigeria indicated it was committed to voting
for the resolution. We knew that Rwanda, South
Korea and Australia would not back it, but we
believed Nigeria was on board.”
However, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said he
reached out to President Jonathan and received
his 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.


United States Secretary of State John Kerry also
reached out to Nigeria to help thwart the
resolution.
Whether or not Palestine received nine votes,
however, the resolution stood little chance as the
US could have utilized veto power (as a permanent
member) against it.


Calls to the office of the Nigerian Ambassador to
the United States in Washington D.C. were met
with confusion. "No comment," a source in the
office said. "I don't even know what you are talking
about." http://saharareporters.com/2014/12/31/nigeria-snubs-palestine-last-minute-thwart-un-resolution-calling-end-israeli-occupation

Bravo PGEAJ, brave move.

Good riddance......