The UN Security Council must decide on Thursday on a request from the Palestinians to become a full member state of the United Nations, several diplomatic sources announced overnight.
At the beginning of April, the Palestinian Authority relaunched a procedure initiated in 2011, but which had failed due to opposition from the United States.
The Arab group issued a statement Tuesday evening affirming its “unfailing support” for the Palestinian request, but it once again appears destined to run into an American veto.
Israel “reserves the right to protect itself” against Iran, maintains its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose government, according to media reports, once considered rapid retaliatory strikes against Tehran after the weekend attack .
The Israeli authorities repeat that the Iranian attack, with more than 350 drones and missiles launched towards Israel, almost all of which were intercepted in flight, will not go “unpunished”.
“We are in favor of there being sanctions which can also target all those who help to make missiles, drones which were used during the attack from Saturday to Sunday,” he said. he declared on Wednesday in Brussels, shortly before a summit of the Twenty-Seven. “So, our duty is to expand these sanctions,” he insisted, stressing that he had pleaded for this solution during the virtual G7 summit on Sunday.
“We are in favor of there being sanctions which can also target all those who help to make missiles, drones which were used during the attack from Saturday to Sunday,” he said. he declared on Wednesday in Brussels, shortly before a summit of the Twenty-Seven. “So, our duty is to expand these sanctions,” he insisted, stressing that he had pleaded for this solution during the virtual G7 summit on Sunday.
According to Israeli and American media, Israel considered quickly carrying out strikes in Iran in retaliation for the missiles launched by Tehran, but ultimately revised its plans.
According to Israeli public broadcaster Kan, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided not to implement these pre-approved plans after discussions with Joe Biden. “Diplomatic sensitivities played a role (…) There will be a response but it will be different from what was initially planned,” a senior official told the channel on condition of anonymity.
After Washington, it is Brussels’ turn to raise its tone vis-à-vis Tehran. The European Union decided on Wednesday to impose new sanctions against Iran targeting drone and missile producers, said European Council President Charles Michel. “We wanted to send a clear message” after the attack on Israel, he declared after a summit in Brussels bringing together the leaders of the 27 member countries.
Hello everyone. On this Thursday, April 18, the editorial staff of 20 minutes is once again mobilized to give you all the information on the Middle East. Fears of an embrace of the region are still strong while Israel intends to implement a “response” to Iran’s unprecedented attack against its territory.