Draft United Nations resolution on Israeli settlements

Türkiye on Friday expressed its approval of the U.N. resolution granting the Palestinians additional rights in the global body and backed their drive for full membership, which is blocked by the United States.

"We welcome the U.N. General Assembly resolution to expand Palestine's rights and privileges at the U.N.," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Turkey regrets the vetoing by the United States on Dec. 18 of a U.N. Security Council resolution that called for the U.S. declaration of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital to be withdrawn, the Turkish Foreign Ministry has said.

The United States on Dec. 23 allowed the U.N. Security Council to adopt a resolution demanding an end to Israeli settlement building, defying heavy pressure from long-time ally Israel and President-elect Donald Trump for Washington to wield its veto.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced that he was planning to resubmit the UN Security Council resolution on ending the occupation of Palestinian territories by Israel.

Abbas stated that Palestine is to submit the resolution until the Security Council recognises it as a state under occupation, Sky News Arabia quoted him as saying on Sunday.