France is set to start discussions with its European partners on a possible United Nations Security Council resolution to lay out the framework for ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said.
“We have said that these parameters have to be defined and recognized by the Security Council and that obviously the two parties have to discuss, but the discussion will be accompanied by an international effort,” he said.
"I hope that the partners who were reluctant will not be reluctant anymore,"he added, referring to the United States, which has traditionally shielded its ally Israel from any action at the United Nations.
France, along with Britain and Germany, the two other European permanent members, drafted a Security Council resolution late last year after the Council voted against a Palestinian-initiated resolution calling for Israeli withdrawal from the disputed territories by 2017. The United States then voted against the Palestinian-initiated resolution, but President Barack Obama has indicated that the U.S. may “reassess” its options regarding Israel in the U.N.
The White House on Friday appeared to leave open the possibility of U.S. support for the resolution, without commenting specifically. White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said the Obama administration was aware of Fabius’ comments. “But we have not yet actually seen a text of a resolution so I’d reserve comment on a hypothetical resolution,” he said.
U.S.-Israel relations have dropped to historic lows in recent weeks, largely because of disagreement over a nuclear deal with Iran that the U.S. and other world powers hope to reach by March 31 and due to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s remarks about Palestinian statehood and Arab Israeli voters.
But on Friday, the U.S. sharply criticized the U.N. Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for continuing to single out Israel for criticism.
“We are disappointed that this Council continually singles out Israel for criticism without acknowledging the violent attacks directed at its people, nor the obligations and difficult steps required of both sides. In short such singling out undermines the credibility of the council,” said U.S. Ambassador to the UNHRC Keith Harper.