Dr. Saeb Erekat, a member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) said Friday the continuation of some countries to deal with Israel as a country above international law and try to protect its settlement and occupation, is now considered the main reason behind the collapse of the peace process and a primary factor for pushing the region and its peoples into the abyss of violence, chaos, extremism and bloodshed. In a statement, Dr. Erekat said that the presentation of a draft resolution to the Security Council was considered in the high interest of the Palestinians , noting that the resolution states that the 4th Geneva Convention for the Year 1949 applies to Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories since 1967, especially East Jerusalem, in addition to halting unjust and inhuman siege imposed on the Gaza Strip. He asked how the Western countries call for the achievement of democracy, human rights and freedom while they provide protection to Israeli occupation and settlements and the imposition of the status quo on the ground, which are considered as the highest forms of terrorism. Other Palestinian officials also reacted quickly Friday to the US veto of a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlement activities in the Palestinian territories saying it does not help the peace process.The United States voted against the resolution, which in addition to condemning Israeli settlements, describing them as illegal, calls on Israel to stop all settlement activities in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem (Al-Quds). The other 14 Security Council members voted in favor. Palestinian presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh said: 'the veto does not help the peace process.' He said that the veto 'only encourages Israel to continue in its settlement activities and to avoid meeting its peace obligations.' He expressed surprise at the veto, saying it 'will only further complicate the situation in the Middle East,' according to a report of the German Press Agency 'DPA. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said this veto will complicate matters in the Middle East,' he told Reuters after the vote at the United Nations in New York. Abbas came out of his office to meet hundreds of supporters. 'What we have sought and what we are seeking is that the occupiers leave our country so that we can build our independent Palestinian state with Al-Quds (Jerusalem) as its capital,' he told them, according to a report of Reuters. 'We will not accept settlements regardless of their shape.'
