The great rift with Israel occurred shortly after 5pmwhen the United Nations General Assembly has approved the resolution recognizing Palestine as eligible to become an effective member of the UN, underlining its recommendation to the Security Council for consideration with the utmost attention. In April the United States had vetoed the issue, and in the session on Friday 10 May the resolution obtained 143 votes in favour, 9 against and 25 abstentions. Including that of Italy. Israel’s reaction was indignant and violent.
“This way you open up to the new Nazis”
Foreign Minister Israel Katz he defined the vote in favor of Palestine’s membership of the UN as absurd. “In this way you are opening up to new Nazis. The message you pass and send to our suffering land is that violence pays. The decision to update the Palestinian status is a reward for Hamas terrorists. Israel is grateful to all those countries that did not vote for or cooperate with this twisted move, choosing to stand on the right side of history and morality.”
The UN charter torn to pieces
The Israeli ambassador to the United Nations went further with a symbolic gesture. Gilad Erdan shredded the UN Charter by putting it in a paper shredder. His words of accusation were heated: “You are tearing the Charter of the United Nations to pieces with your own hands. Shame on you.”
Hamas celebrates
Hamas bogs down the UN vote on Palestine. “We consider this resolution – wrote the Islamic faction on Telegram – a recognition of the need for our Palestinian people to obtain their legitimate rights and an affirmation of international cooperation, in the face of the US willingness to support the war of annihilation waged against them . We ask the free countries of the world to intensify their efforts and to provide all means of assistance and support to our Palestinian people.”
The countries that abstained
Italy abstained on the UN General Assembly resolution which recognizes Palestine as qualified to become a full member of the United Nations. The other abstentions are Albania, Bulgaria, Austria, Canada, Croatia, Fiji, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Marshall Island, Holland, North Macedonia, Moldova, Paraguay, Romania, Vanuatu, Malawi, the Principality of Monaco, Ukraine, Great Britain, Sweden and Switzerland. While the nine countries that voted against are the USA, Israel, Palau, Nauru, Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Hungary, Argentina and the Czech Republic (rpt Czech Republic).
Violent fighting in Rafah continues
The situation in Rafah is becoming increasingly dramatic hour after hour, the subject of violent clashes between the Israeli army (IDF) and Palestinian militants. The relief crossings for food, water and fuel supplies are closed. The eastern side is surrounded. The evacuation of civilians (110,000 have already fled) is becoming impossible, as are food, medical and logistical relief operations. With the Strip swept away by heavy air raids and ground operations, with mechanical means even turning over the cultivated lands, approximately 1.3 million Palestinians they couldn’t do anything but gather in flight in Rafah, close to the (closed) Egyptian border. The threat of the American president, Joe Biden, to stop military supplies to Israel has not stopped the war operations nor has it dissuaded the controversial Prime Minister Netanyahu.