Israel and US Lone Votes Against UN Covid-19 Resolution

Once again Israel and America have stood alone at the United Nations. The two countries were the only ones to vote against a United Nations General Assembly resolution over the Corona Virus crisis on Friday, the Associated Press reported.

In a 169-2 vote, the United Nations General Assembly approved a non-binding resolution which calls the Covid-19 pandemic, “one of the greatest global challenges in the history of the United Nations.” The resolution also expressed, “solidarity with all people and countries affected by the pandemic and condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims.”

The resolution also called on the nations of the world to fight the Corona Virus in unity, solidarity and cooperation.

[embedded content]

Read the full text of the UN resolution here.

Well this sounds like a nice call for the nations of the world to set aside their differences and to come together to fight the pandemic. So what did the U.S. and Israel object to exactly?

Well, according to a report in the Jerusalem Post, it was the text of an amendment added by the Cuban delegation which could be construed as requiring Israel to end its control of the West Bank. The text of the amendment demands “the urgent removal of unjustified obstacles in order to ensure the universal, timely and equitable access to, and fair distribution of, all quality, safe, efficacious and affordable essential health technologies and products, including their components and precursors that are required in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

There were also some words which the United States probably saw as an attempt to block its current policies Vis a Vis Iran. These called on nations, “to refrain from promulgating and applying any unilateral economic, financial or trade measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations that impedes the full achievement of economic and social development, particularly in developing countries.”