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WORLD NEWS Wednesday 20 december 2023

U.N. Security Council in intense negotiations on Gaza humanitarian

resolution, trying to avoid U.S. veto

By EDITH M. LEDERER In its first unified action on
Associated Press Nov. 15, with the U.S. ab-
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — staining, the Security Coun-
U.N. Security Council mem- cil adopted a resolution
bers were in intense nego- calling for “urgent and ex-
tiations Tuesday on an Ar- tended humanitarian paus-
ab-sponsored resolution to es” in the fighting, unhin-
spur desperately needed dered aid deliveries to civil-
humanitarian aid deliveries ians and the unconditional
to Gaza during some kind release of all hostages.
of a halt in the fighting, try- Israeli President Isaac Her-
ing to avoid another veto zog said during a briefing
by the United States. with ambassadors that Isra-
The vote, initially scheduled el is “ready for another hu-
for Monday afternoon, was manitarian pause and ad-
postponed until Tuesday to ditional humanitarian aid in
try to get the U.S. to support order to enable the release
the resolution or abstain. of hostages.” But Ambas-
The vote had been expect- sador Lana Nusseibeh of
ed to take place by early the United Arab Emirates,
afternoon, but diplomats the Arab representative
said it was pushed back un- on the 15-member council,
til later in the day because said Tuesday a new resolu-
the United States asked Palestinians unload wheat sacks from a humanitarian aid truck into a grocery store under guard tion had to go “a little bit
for more time. They spoke by Hamas fighters in Rafah, Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. Associated Press further” than the Nov. 15
on condition of anonymity resolution. Security Council
because the negotiations ing called for an “urgent early Tuesday “calls for the er council members and resolutions are important
have been private. and sustainable cessation urgent suspension of hos- dozens of other nations because they are legally
State Department spokes- of hostilities,” but this lan- tilities to allow safe and un- demanding an immediate binding, but in practice
man Matt Miller said the U.S. guage is expected to be hindered humanitarian ac- humanitarian cease-fire many parties choose to ig-
is still “engaging construc- watered down in a final cess, and for urgent steps in Gaza. The 193-member nore the council’s requests
tively” with other members draft, possibly to a “suspen- towards a sustainable ces- General Assembly over- for action. General Assem-
of the council on the text, sion” of hostilities or some- sation of hostilities.” whelmingly approved a bly resolutions are not le-
without giving any details. thing weaker to get U.S. The U.S. on Dec. 8 vetoed a similar resolution on Dec. 12 gally binding, though they
The draft resolution on support, diplomats said. Security Council resolution by a vote of 153-10, with 23 are a significant barometer
the table Monday morn- A new draft circulated backed by almost all oth- abstentions. of world opinion.q

Turkey links Sweden’s NATO bid to US approving F-16 jet sales and

Canada lifting arms embargo

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — He made the comments the only two NATO mem- tary alliance. gress approving Turkey’s
Ratification of Sweden’s late Monday while return- bers not to have formally Erdogan’s comments were request to purchase 40 F-16
NATO membership by Tur- ing from a visit to Hungary. approved Sweden’s bid to reported by the state-run fighter jets and kits to mod-
key’s parliament hinges on Hungary and Turkey are join the trans-Atlantic mili- Anadolu Agency. ernize its existing fleet.
the U.S. Congress’ approval He told reporters that Turk- Turkey has delayed ratifica-
of Turkey’s request to pur- ish Foreign Minister Hakan tion of Sweden’s member-
chase F-16 fighter jets, Turk- Fidan raised the issue of a ship for more than a year.
ish President Recep Tayyip simultaneous approval by Ankara accuses the coun-
Erdogan has said, calling Turkey’s parliament and try of not taking Turkey’s
on the two legislatures to Congress during discussions security concerns seriously
act “simultaneously.” this week with U.S. Secretary enough, including its fight
In comments reported on of State Antony Blinken. against Kurdish militants
Tuesday, Erdogan also said “If we operate this simulta- and other groups that An-
Canada and other NATO neously, we will have the kara considers to be secu-
allies must lift arms embar- opportunity to pass this rity threats.
goes imposed on Turkey. through the parliament The delays have frustrat-
“Positive developments much more easily,” Erdo- ed other NATO allies, who
from the United States re- gan quoted Fidan as telling were swift to accept Swe-
garding the F-16 issue and Blinken. Erdogan submitted den and Finland into the
Canada keeping its prom- a protocol on Sweden’s alliance after the neigh-
ises will accelerate our par- Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a joint admission to parliament in boring countries dropped
liament’s positive view on statement with Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban at the October, but the ratifica- their longstanding military
(Sweden’s membership,)” Carmelite Monastery in Budapest, Hungary, Monday, Dec. 18, tion process stalled. neutrality following Russia’s
Erdogan said. “All of these 2023. The Turkish leader has since invasion of Ukraine in Feb-
are linked.” Associated Press linked the matter to Con- ruary 2022.q