Israeli UN Ambassador: UN Security Council must end Syria massacre

US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said action may be taken in Syria if the UN Security Council fails to do so. 

Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations (UN), Danny Danon, called for the international community to act in stopping “the ongoing massacre of civilians in Syria,” as the UN Security Council on Wednesday postponed a vote on a resolution calling for an investigation into a chemical weapons attack on Tuesday in the Idlib province of Syria.

“The Security Council must use all its authority to put an end to the situation in Syria,” Danon said. “The world must not remain silent in the face of crimes against humanity.”

The permanent members of the UN Security Council have continuously failed to reach agreement over Syria.

“The negotiations continue with our colleagues on the Security Council and I would not anticipate them coming to a conclusion today,” the United Kingdom’s (UK) Ambassador to the UN, Matthew Rycroft, told reporters.

“We very much hope it will be possible for everyone to come together,” Rycroft continued. “If not, we will press ahead.”

While the United States, the UK, and France have attempted to sanction and penalize the Syrian government, while holding it primarily responsible for the carnage in Syria, Russia and China have elected to use their veto power, ensuring the failure of any enforceable action against Syria.

Action against Syria without UN Security Council?

US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley suggested on Wednesday action may still be taken by individual member states if the UN Security Council fails to reach consensus.

“When the United Nations consistently fails in its duty to act collectively, there are times in the life of states that we are compelled to take our own action,” said Haley addressing the UN Security Council.

For his part, US President Donald Trump, who has conveyed somewhat of an anti-interventionist tone on Syria, said his position on Syria’s civil war has been modified as a result of Tuesday’s attack.

“It’s already happened that my attitude toward Syria and Assad has changed very much,” Trump said on Wednesday during a press conference with Jordan’s King Abdullah II. “And if you look back over the last few weeks, there were other attacks using gas.  You’re now talking about a whole different level.”

Ambassador Haley also accused Russia of unjustifiably defending its traditional Syrian ally.

“Time and time again, Russia uses the same false narrative to deflect attention from their allies in Damascus,” Haley continued. “How many more children have to die before Russia cares?”

Russia’s Deputy Ambassador to the UN, Vladimir Safronkov responded by accusing his western colleagues of moving too quickly in drafting the resolution.

“Have you even checked what you wrote?” he asked. “This draft was prepared in a hasty way.”

UN official: Means of chemical attack unconfirmed

At Wednesday’s meeting, UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Kim Won-soo said the details surrounding the implementation of the attack are still inconclusive.

“Reports have stated the attack was carried out through an airstrike on a residential area, (but) the means of delivery of the alleged attack cannot be definitively confirmed, at this stage,” he said.

By: Jonathan Benedek, World Israel News

DanonSyriaUnited Nations Security Council