UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY VOTES 87-57 TO CONDEMN HAMAS: A majority of UN member states voted in favor of a General Assembly resolution put forward by the USA on Thur. 6 Dec. 2018 condemning the activities of Hamas and other terror groups in Gaza. While 87 voted in favor, 57 voted against, and 33 abstained, the measure was not adopted because, in a procedural vote held before the main vote on the resolution, it was decided to require a two-thirds majority for passage. USA Representative to the UN, Nikki Haley, said that despite more than 500 General Assembly resolutions condemning Israel, not one condemning Hamas has ever been adopted. She described the two-thirds decision, which passed by just a handful of votes, as "unfair." Israeli PM Netanyahu, however, on Fri. 7 Dec. 2018 hailed majority backing in the UN General Assembly for the USA draft resolution condemning Hamas. "This is the first time that a majority of countries have voted against Hamas and I commend each of the 87 countries that took a principled stand. I thank the American administration and USA ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley for the initiative." (Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs)