Nigeria to abstain in Palestine UN vote

Nigeria's President G. Ebele Jonathan, has said that the West African nation will abstain from the United Nations Security Council vote on Palestinian statehood. This decision represents a diplomatic success for Israel who want to prevent a Palestinian state attaining UN membership.

The office of the Isreali Defense Minister, Ehud Barak made this known to the press yesterday. According to Barak, Jonathan’s decision followed a meeting that was held in New York. Before the meeting, Nigeria was one of the Security Council members who was against passing the resolution, but was yet to take a decision on how to vote.

Barak had earlier updated his Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu of his plan to meet with Jonathan as well as United States government officials who were also working against the Palestinian Authority’s statehood bid from passing in the Security Council.

The office further revealed that the meeting was held last week, adding that they also discuss other pressing matters, regarding the wave of international terrorism, which, the two countries worked out modalities on how to tackle.

The United States has the veto power to over rule whatever decision taken in respect of the passing, and has made it clear that it will not hesitate to make use of it as they also are against the bid.

The Security Council members that are against Palestine's UN membership are are the U.S, Germany and Colombia while China,India, Lebanon, Russia, and South Africa are in favour.

Early hours of yesterday revealed that many of the Security Council member states were still confused about the vote, includingGabon who made it known yesterday they are yet to make a decision.


Source: Daily Times of Nigeria