ALBAWABA - Israel has strongly opposed the UN General Assembly's approval of the New York Declaration, which outlines steps toward a two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that it "categorically rejects" the decision and called the UN body a "political circus detached from reality."
The statement said that the declaration was bad because it didn't mention Hamas, which Israel calls a terrorist group. Officials said the document didn't take into account the group's role in keeping the war going because it refused to release hostages or disarm.
Israel said that the resolution "encourages Hamas to continue the war" instead of moving toward peace.
Tel Aviv thanked the countries that either voted against or abstained, calling them states that did not "lend their hand to this disgraceful decision."
The Vote and the Background
The New York Declaration passed with 142 votes in favor, 10 against (including Israel and the United States), and 12 abstentions.
Saudi Arabia and France hosted an international conference at the UN in July to talk about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that has been going on for decades. The result was a seven-page document.
