The draft resolution submitted to the UN Security Council by Jordan, on behalf of the Palestinians, encountered the expected harsh Israeli response. Israel is still hoping the United States will veto the resolution in its current version and is acting feverishly to convince the world that the proposal is tantamount to a “unilateral step,” which as such Israel isn’t bound to.
The proposal, which is still likely to undergo changes before the vote, indeed includes a clause referring to the right of return. While reservations to this clause are in order, the overall proposal is worthy of support because of the important innovation it contains: It sets a time period both for continuing the negotiations and for Israel’s withdrawal – by the end of 2017.
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