US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley during a Security Council meeting. Photo: UN Photo / Rick Bajornas.

JNS.org – US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley announced that she will refocus the UN Security Council away from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and instead toward longstanding issues that have been neglected in recent years, while she assumes the body’s presidency this month.

“So much has been put towards Israel and the Palestinian Authority and not enough has been put towards some of the other issues,” Haley said at a press conference Monday, noting that she will focus an April 20 Security Council debate around issues such as Iran’s support for terrorism, Syria, Hezbollah and Hamas.

“That is our goal for the Middle East — open debate,” she said.

Each month, a member of the 15-country Security Council assumes control as president.

Haley also said she has warned Palestinian Authority UN representative Riyad Mansour that the US will block any Arab-sponsored motions targeting Israel, while also calling on the Palestinians to show “genuine willingness” to return to the negotiating table with the Jewish state.

“We don’t want to see any additional measures brought at the UN that would bash Israel or lift up the Palestinian Authority until we can get these negotiations to happen. And I do think that the discussions that have happened at the UN have been more of a hindrance towards the peace process than it’s been a help, because it’s caused defensiveness to happen,” she said.