UN Security Council to meet on U.S. Jerusalem decision

UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Security Council will hold its regular monthly briefing on the Middle East Monday, focusing on U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, sources said Sunday.

UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov will do the briefing, which will include discussions on a draft resolution, sources said.

The briefing comes amid a flurry of diplomatic activities following the decision by the U.S. administration on Dec. 6 to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

In response to the U.S. declaration, the Palestinian delegation to the UN has been meeting with Security Council members to discuss the contours of a Security Council resolution likely to be circulated in the coming days, the sources added.

Egypt circulated a draft text on Saturday, which stresses that Jerusalem is an issue "to be resolved through negotiations" and expresses "deep regret at recent decisions concerning the status of Jerusalem," without specifically mentioning Trump's move.

"Any decisions and actions which purport to have altered the character, status or demographic composition of the Holy City of Jerusalem have no legal effect, are null and void and must be rescinded," it said.

Such a resolution would most likely be vetoed by the U.S., the sources said, adding the Palestinians might also pursue action in the General Assembly after a veto in the Security Council.

Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, on Saturday issued a statement condemning the draft for a Security Council resolution, saying, "No vote or debate will change the clear reality that Jerusalem has and always will be the capital of Israel. Together with our allies, we will continue to fight, once again, for historical truth."

The Security Council already held an emergency meeting on Dec. 8 to address the decision at the request of Bolivia, Egypt, France, Italy, Senegal, Sweden, Britain and Uruguay. At the meeting, Mladenov reiterated the UN's position that Jerusalem should remain a final status issue to be determined between the two sides. Enditem