
Now that the US has isolated itself by vetoing a UN Security Council resolution on Monday critical of its recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, Chinese experts say they expect new negotiation mechanisms to be introduced for the Middle East peace talks.
The other 14 members of the Security Council voted in favor of the Egyptian-drafted resolution, which did not specifically mention the US but expressed "deep regret at recent decisions concerning the status of Jerusalem," Reuters reported on Monday.
After vetoing the resolution, US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley stated, "What we have witnessed here today in the Security Council is an insult. It won't be forgotten."
This was the first veto cast by the US in more than six years, according to Reuters.
In early December, US President Donald Trump declared Jerusalem the legitimate capital of Israel, sparking criticism from the Arab world and protests around the globe.
"Members of the council knew that the resolution would be vetoed by the US, but they still wanted to put the US under pressure. The US has isolated itself, which means it can no longer act as a suitable mediator concerning the Palestine-Israel issue," Hua Liming, a former Chinese ambassador to Iran, told the Global Times.
"The Monday resolution does show something positive which is, except for the US, the international community has reached a consensus concerning the US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital," Li Weijian, a professor of West Asian and African Studies at the Shanghai Institute for International Studies, told the Global Times.
Li said that international pressure may cause the US to alter its future policies in the Middle East, including reconsidering whether to move its embassy to Jerusalem or deciding if the embassy should be located in East or West Jerusalem.
Li noted that Palestinians want East Jerusalem to be the capital of an independent Palestine state.
"The recent incidents in the Middle East show that previous mechanisms, which included the US, Russia and the Arab world, have failed to cool down tensions in the region. A new negotiation mechanism may be introduced to the region soon, with China playing a more active role as a mediator," Li said.
A Palestine-Israel peace symposium will be held in Beijing on Thursday and Friday. The symposium should help to de-escalate tensions in Gaza and the West Bank, analysts state.
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