United Nations Security Council Resolution 1860
Encyclopedia
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1860, adopted on January 8, 2009, after recalling resolutions 242
(1967), 338
(1973), 1397
(2002), 1515
(2003) and 1850
(2008) on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict
, the Council called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza War following 13 days of fighting between Israel
and Hamas
.
Ultimately, the resolution was unsuccessful as Israel
and Hamas
ignored it and the fighting continued.
leading to a full Israeli withdrawal, unimpeded provision through Gaza of food, fuel and medical treatment, and intensified international arrangements to prevent arms and ammunition smuggling." All members stressed the importance of an "immediate and durable ceasefire".
from the United States
. Explaining the abstention, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
said the U.S. wanted to first see the outcome of the Egypt
ian peace efforts, but allowed the resolution to go forward because it was a step in the right direction. It was later revealed that the abstention was ordered by U.S. President
George W. Bush
. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
has said that Bush was acting on his advice.
's status as a member state of the United Nations means that it is bound under Article 25 of the United Nations Charter
to "agree, accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council". It is generally accepted that Security Council resolutions adopted in the exercise of its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace in accordance with the UN Charter are binding upon the member states.
session on January 9, the government stated it would not accept the UN resolution, declaring that "the IDF will continue to act in order to attain the objectives of the operation — to bring about a change in the security situation in the south of the country — this in accordance with the plans that have been approved upon embarking on the operation." In addition, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called the resolution "unworkable" due to continued rocket fire by Hamas.
, a Hamas spokesman in Gaza
said: "Even though we are the main actors on the ground in Gaza, we were not consulted about this resolution and they have not taken into account our vision and the interests of our people."
United Nations Security Council Resolution 242
United Nations Security Council Resolution 242 was adopted unanimously by the UN Security Council on November 22, 1967, in the aftermath of the Six Day War. It was adopted under Chapter VIof the United Nations Charter...
(1967), 338
United Nations Security Council Resolution 338
The three-line United Nations Security Council Resolution 338, adopted on October 22, 1973, called for a ceasefire in the Yom Kippur War in accordance with a joint proposal by the United States and the Soviet Union. The resolution stipulated a cease fire to take effect within 12 hours of the...
(1973), 1397
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1397
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1397, adopted on March 12, 2002, after recalling resolutions 242 and 338 , the Council demanded an end to violence during the Second Intifada between the Israeli and Palestinian sides...
(2002), 1515
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1515
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1515, adopted unanimously on November 19, 2003, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in the Middle East, particularly resolutions 242 , 338 , 1397 and the Madrid Principles, the Council endorsed the Road map for peace proposed by the...
(2003) and 1850
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1850
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1850 was unanimously adopted on 16 December 2008.- Resolution :Reaffirming its support for the agreements and negotiations resulting from the 2007 Middle East summit in Annapolis, Maryland, the Security Council called on the parties, regional States, and...
(2008) on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict
Israeli–Palestinian conflict
The Israeli–Palestinian conflict is the ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. The conflict is wide-ranging, and the term is also used in reference to the earlier phases of the same conflict, between Jewish and Zionist yishuv and the Arab population living in Palestine under Ottoman or...
, the Council called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza War following 13 days of fighting between Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and Hamas
Hamas
Hamas is the Palestinian Sunni Islamic or Islamist political party that governs the Gaza Strip. Hamas also has a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades...
.
Ultimately, the resolution was unsuccessful as Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and Hamas
Hamas
Hamas is the Palestinian Sunni Islamic or Islamist political party that governs the Gaza Strip. Hamas also has a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades...
ignored it and the fighting continued.
Details
The resolution called for "an immediate ceasefire in GazaGaza
Gaza , also referred to as Gaza City, is a Palestinian city in the Gaza Strip, with a population of about 450,000, making it the largest city in the Palestinian territories.Inhabited since at least the 15th century BC,...
leading to a full Israeli withdrawal, unimpeded provision through Gaza of food, fuel and medical treatment, and intensified international arrangements to prevent arms and ammunition smuggling." All members stressed the importance of an "immediate and durable ceasefire".
Voting
The resolution was adopted by 14 votes to none against, and one abstentionAbstention
Abstention is a term in election procedure for when a participant in a vote either does not go to vote or, in parliamentary procedure, is present during the vote, but does not cast a ballot. Abstention must be contrasted with "blank vote", in which a voter casts a ballot willfully made invalid by...
from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Explaining the abstention, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice is an American political scientist and diplomat. She served as the 66th United States Secretary of State, and was the second person to hold that office in the administration of President George W. Bush...
said the U.S. wanted to first see the outcome of the Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian peace efforts, but allowed the resolution to go forward because it was a step in the right direction. It was later revealed that the abstention was ordered by U.S. President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
Ehud Olmert
Ehud Olmert is an Israeli politician and lawyer. He served as Prime Minister of Israel from 2006 to 2009, as a Cabinet Minister from 1988 to 1992 and from 2003 to 2006, and as Mayor of Jerusalem from 1993 to 2003....
has said that Bush was acting on his advice.
Impact and enforcement
IsraelIsrael
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
's status as a member state of the United Nations means that it is bound under Article 25 of the United Nations Charter
United Nations Charter
The Charter of the United Nations is the foundational treaty of the international organization called the United Nations. It was signed at the San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center in San Francisco, United States, on 26 June 1945, by 50 of the 51 original member countries...
to "agree, accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council". It is generally accepted that Security Council resolutions adopted in the exercise of its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace in accordance with the UN Charter are binding upon the member states.
Israel
In a statement released immediately after the Israeli cabinetCabinet of Israel
The Cabinet of Israel is a formal body composed of government officials called ministers, chosen and led by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister must appoint members based on the distribution of votes to political parties during legislative elections, and its composition must be approved by a...
session on January 9, the government stated it would not accept the UN resolution, declaring that "the IDF will continue to act in order to attain the objectives of the operation — to bring about a change in the security situation in the south of the country — this in accordance with the plans that have been approved upon embarking on the operation." In addition, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called the resolution "unworkable" due to continued rocket fire by Hamas.
Hamas
The same day, Ayman TahaAyman Taha
Ayman Taha is a senior Hamas official and the organization's spokesman in the Gaza Strip. Taha was co-founder of Hamas also a former Hamas fighter.-Biography:...
, a Hamas spokesman in Gaza
Gaza
Gaza , also referred to as Gaza City, is a Palestinian city in the Gaza Strip, with a population of about 450,000, making it the largest city in the Palestinian territories.Inhabited since at least the 15th century BC,...
said: "Even though we are the main actors on the ground in Gaza, we were not consulted about this resolution and they have not taken into account our vision and the interests of our people."
See also
- Gaza War
- Israeli–Palestinian conflictIsraeli–Palestinian conflictThe Israeli–Palestinian conflict is the ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. The conflict is wide-ranging, and the term is also used in reference to the earlier phases of the same conflict, between Jewish and Zionist yishuv and the Arab population living in Palestine under Ottoman or...
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1801 to 1900 (2008 – 2009)
- United Nations Security Council Resolution 660United Nations Security Council Resolution 660United Nations Security Council Resolution 660, adopted on August 2, 1990, after noting its alarm of the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq, the Council condemned the invasion and demanded Iraq withdraw immediately and unconditionally to positions as they were on August 1, 1990.Yemen called upon Iraq and...
- List of United Nations resolutions concerning Israel