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Israel, Palestinians Gird for Showdown over UN Resolution on West Bank Withdrawal
(Washington Post) Carol Morello and William Booth Israel and the Palestinians are girding for a showdown at the UN this week over a resolution that would recognize a Palestinian state and demand an Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank in less than two years. The Palestinian leadership announced that it will submit a resolution to the Security Council on Wednesday, but it is likely doomed from the start. Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Monday that the measure does not yet have the support of a majority of Security Council members. Trying to avert a confrontation over the resolution, Secretary of State John Kerry summoned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to a three-hour meeting in Rome on Monday. While Netanyahu declined to say whether Kerry had promised that the U.S. would use its veto, he said, "I very much appreciate the secretary of state's efforts to prevent a deterioration in the region." Netanyahu added: "I said that the attempts of the Palestinians and of several European countries to force conditions on Israel will only lead to a deterioration in the regional situation and will endanger Israel. Therefore, we will strongly oppose this."