AOHR calls Arab countries to revise their relation with the U.S.

CAIRO – 19 December 2017: Arab Organization for Human Rights (AOHR) condemns the United States use of the veto power to prevent the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) from adopting the draft resolution on Jerusalem, submitted by Egypt on behalf of the Arab world.

In its statement released on December 18, the organization called on Arab countries to revise their relations with the U.S. after the recent measures taken by the U.S. Administration to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and its abuse of the veto on Monday.

It added that Arab countries should exclude the U.S. in reaching settlements for the different crisis in the region, considering the consequences of the U.S. decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel regarding peace and stability in the region.

“[The] U.S. does not have the capacity to advance responsibilities of the leadership in international action and to play the role of mediator to solve crisis and disputes that require integrity and ethics to be resolved,” AOHR remarked.

It stressed that the world movement for human rights should stand against the violations committed by the U.S. against human rights’ international laws and should not depend on the U.S. to promote the protection and the respect of human rights around world.

The organization renewed its call for the Arab countries to support the firm, legislative and inalienable Palestinians’ rights and to resort to the UNSC, according to the peace formula, to issue a resolution that invalidates any changes in the status of Jerusalem and to grant Palestine the full membership in the UN and set a timetable for Israel to fully withdraw from Palestine.

United States Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley vetoed Egypt’s draft resolution on Monday. The resolution called on the U.S. Administration to reverse its decision regarding the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

In her speech earlier before the voting, Haley affirmed that the U.S. is still committed to the two-state solution and that relocating the embassy does not necessarily mean recognizing Jerusalem as the official capital.

The diplomats mentioned that the draft, issued by Egypt on Saturday to the 15-member council, has been supported by many members.

The resolution affirmed that any change to Jerusalem’s status has no legal effect and must be reversed; stressing that Jerusalem is an issue "to be resolved through negotiations." It also expressed "deep regret at recent decisions concerning the status of Jerusalem," without specifically mentioning Trump's decision.