The Foreign Minister admitted this Saturday that the resolution approved on Friday in the UN General Assembly on the conflict between Israel and Hamas “is not perfect”, but that Portugal voted in favor because it “contributes to peace.”
“The decision was not easy and the resolution is not perfect. We explained it in our voting declaration,” said the Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs, João Gomes Cravinho, this Saturday on the social network X (formerly Twitter).
The decision was not easy and the resolution is not perfect. We explain it in our explanation of vote. But we believe, like many others, that a favorable vote is the one that best contributes to peace at this time. Finding the path to the two-state solution is essential. pic.twitter.com/IuCoyqnjVI
– João Cravinho (@JoaoCravinho) October 28, 2023
Gomes Cravinho stated that Portugal believes “like many others, that a favorable vote is the one that best contributes to peace at this time. It is essential to find the path towards a two-state solution.”
Also on social network X, Israel’s ambassador in Lisbon, Dor Shapira, had previously regretted Portugal’s vote in favor of the resolution.
“I’m sorry, but when you vote like Iran, Syria, Russia and North Korea and not like the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan and Germany, something doesn’t fit your position,” Shapira said this Saturday.
According to the Israeli ambassador, “Israel has the right to defend itself against a terrorist organization (two points not mentioned in the resolution).”
The United Nations (UN) General Assembly approved on Friday, with 120 votes in favor, a resolution calling for an “immediate, lasting and sustained humanitarian truce” in Gaza and the end of Israel’s order to transfer the population to the south from Gaza. enclave.
The draft resolution presented by Jordan, and co-sponsored by more than 40 UN member states, received 120 votes in favor – including Portugal -, 14 against and 45 abstentions from the 193 UN member states.
Countries such as Israel, the United States, Austria and Hungary voted against this text and among the countries that abstained are Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Iraq or Albania or Cape Verde.
Although not binding, this resolution has political weight and shows the position of the international community in relation to the way in which Israel is conducting its war against the Islamist group Hamas.
An amendment proposed by Canada, and which had the support of dozens of countries, including Portugal, the United States and the United Kingdom, which unequivocally condemned the Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7 and called for the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages. It was also put to a vote, but was not approved as it did not receive the favorable votes of two thirds of the Member States (it obtained 88 votes in favor, 55 against and 23 abstentions).
This amendment comes after harsh criticism launched on Thursday by the Israeli ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, who criticized the fact that the Jordanian text did not have a single reference to Hamas attacks. The United States also criticized the fact that the word “hostages” was not used in the Jordan draft.
At the end of the vote, several countries regretted that the resolution did not mention Israel’s right to defend itself and did not directly condemn Hamas’ actions.
“Today we are witnesses that the UN no longer has relevance or legitimacy,” criticized Gilad Erdan shortly after the vote, stating that it was a “dark day for the UN and for humanity.”
Specifically, the resolution in question calls for an “immediate, lasting and sustained humanitarian truce leading to the cessation of hostilities”; demands that all parties immediately and fully comply with their obligations under international law, including the protection of civilians and civilian objects, and humanitarian personnel; and also demands the immediate, continuous and unimpeded supply of essential goods and services to civilians throughout the Gaza Strip, including water, food, medical supplies, fuel and electricity.
Among other points, it also calls for an end to Israel’s order for Gazans to move south; and calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all civilians illegally held in captivity.
The resolution further reaffirms that a just and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can only be achieved by “peaceful means, based on relevant United Nations resolutions and in accordance with international law, and on the basis of a settlement of two States”. .
The vote took place in a special emergency session of the UN General Assembly, convened after the blockade of the UN Security Council, which so far has failed to approve any of the four resolutions voted on the issue.
Under UN rules, the General Assembly can convene a “special emergency session” within 24 hours if the Security Council “fails to exercise its primary responsibility” to maintain international peace and security.
Source: TSF
