Morocco backs UN resolution on halting Israeli settlements

Morocco has lauded the adoption of what it believes to be “historic resolution” by the UN Security Council, which calls on Israel to halt all settlements operation in the occupied Palestinian territories, Moroccan Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

According to Anadolu Agency, in Tuesday statement, the ministry expressed its satisfaction with the consensus of the international community on the non-legitimacy of the Israeli settlement policy.

“Following the adoption by the UN Security Council on Friday December 23rd of Resolution No. 2334 calling on the Israeli authorities to stop all settlement operations in the Palestinian territories, occupied since 1967, the Kingdom of Morocco welcomes this historic decision and expresses its satisfaction with the unanimity of the international community on the non-legitimacy of the Israeli settlement policy, which constitutes a flagrant violation of the provisions of international law and the relevant UN resolutions,” the ministry said in Tuesday statement.

The Moroccan ministry has warned that Israel’s persistence in its settlement policy, destroys all the efforts that have been exerted to solve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and to reach a peace agreement between the two countries.

“The Kingdom of Morocco considers that Israel’s persistence in its settlement policy constitutes a threat to the chances of peace in the region and undermines all efforts to reach a final, just and comprehensive solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, on the basis of international legality and the two-state solution”, the statement added.

On supporting the Palestinian cause, the ministry noted to its constant position and support for Palestinian people on establishing their independent state, with Al-Quds East as its capital, within the 4 June 1967 borders, in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.

Last Friday, the UN Security Council adopted a landmark resolution demanding a halt to all Israeli settlement in the occupied territories with the United States notably abstaining. The resolution, which passed with 14 votes in support, has described the Jewish settlement activity as a flagrant violation of international law.

According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), Israel intends this week to establish thousands of more homes in settlements in annexed east Jerusalem in defiance of a landmark UN resolution demanding an end to such activity.