B’nai B’rith President Seth J. Riklin and CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin have issued the following statement:

B’nai B’rith International commends the United States for vetoing an Algerian-sponsored motion at the United Nations Security Council to back the admission of a Palestinian state to the U.N.

There is no Palestinian state to recognize—owing to Palestinian leaders’ and terrorist groups’ repeated rejection of every serious proposal of a two-state solution and peaceful coexistence alongside Israel. Algeria itself continues to deny the legitimate existence of the democratic Jewish state.

This latest effort to have the U.N. prematurely and unilaterally award Palestinians the status and benefits of full statehood violates the longstanding international principle that Palestinians too have essential obligations in peacemaking and that final-status issues can only be resolved through direct bilateral negotiations with Israel. The Palestinian leadership has perennially refused serious talks and compromise with Israel. This refusal—and ongoing Hamas-led Palestinian terrorism against Israelis—must not be rewarded and incentivized at the world body.

The principled vote by the United States is a requisite step to sidelining regional fanatics and promoting actual peacemaking and progress for all people in the Middle East.

B’nai B’rith wrote to council members ahead of today’s vote seeking their rejection of this misguided resolution.

We strongly repudiate those countries, including France, that endorsed a resolution that is both irresponsible and so patently disconnected from current realities.