Nigeria's action spoke volumes, as it is reported that just before the decision, diplomats were under the impression that Nigeria would vote "yes". A Palestinian source involved in the negotiations told the Guardian: “Even half an hour before the vote, Nigeria indicated it was committed to voting for the resolution. We knew that Rwanda, South Korea and Australia would not back it, but we believed Nigeria was on board.”
A United Nations resolution, calling for an end to Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory by 2017, was shot down on Wednesday.
The resolution, which urged new talks regarding Palestinian territory prior to Israel's occupation, was the product of three months worth of effort and campaigning by Palestine, and supported by 22 Arab states.
These efforts proved fruitless today, when at the last minute, Nigeria broke its traditionally neutral stance and backed out of supporting Palestine.
Palestine needed nine votes from the 15 members of the UN Security Council, both permanent and non-permanent. Until 2015, Nigeria is one of the 10 non-permanent members.
Palestine received eight of the needed nine votes.
The US and Australia stood against the resolution, while Russia, China, France, Luxembourg, Jordan, Argentina, Chile and Chad voted in its favor. Britain, South Korea, Rwanda, Lithuania, and Nigeria notably abstained.
Nigeria's action spoke volumes, as it is reported that just before the decision, diplomats were under the impression that Nigeria would vote "yes".
A Palestinian source involved in the negotiations told the Guardian: “Even half an hour before the vote, Nigeria indicated it was committed to voting for the resolution. We knew that Rwanda, South Korea and Australia would not back it, but we believed Nigeria was on board.”
However, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said he reached out to President Jonathan and received his support.
“I would like to voice appreciation and thanks to the United States and Australia, and also special appreciation for the president of Rwanda, my friend Paul Kagame, and the president of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan. I spoke with both of them. They told me and promised me, personally, that they would not support this resolution. They kept their word, and that’s what clinched this matter. I think this is very important for the state of Israel,” Mr. Netanyahu said.
United States Secretary of State John Kerry also reached out to Nigeria to help thwart the resolution.
Whether or not Palestine received nine votes, however, the resolution stood little chance as the US could have utilized veto power (as a permanent member) against it.
Calls to the office of the Nigerian Ambassador to the United States in Washington D.C. were met with confusion. "No comment," a source in the office said. "I don't even know what you are talking about."