© Getty
The U.N. Security Council on Friday passed a resolution demanding an end to Israeli settlement building in occupied territories.
The U.S. had the ability to veto the resolution but abstained from doing so, despite pressure from President-elect Donald Trump
Donald TrumpTrump decries Cleveland baseball team's reported name change: 'Cancel culture at work' Trump says White House staffers shouldn't be among first to get coronavirus vaccine Michigan to close legislative office buildings Monday due to 'credible threats of violence' MORE and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Donald TrumpTrump decries Cleveland baseball team's reported name change: 'Cancel culture at work' Trump says White House staffers shouldn't be among first to get coronavirus vaccine Michigan to close legislative office buildings Monday due to 'credible threats of violence' MORE and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.Applause erupts after @UN #SecurityCouncil passes first resolution on #MiddleEastPeaceProcess in 8 years. pic.twitter.com/mZcn1OXSnZ
— NZ Mission to the UN (@NZUN) December 23, 2016
The Obama administration’s decision to let it pass represents a break from the longstanding U.S. policy of shielding Israel from U.N. reproaches.
ADVERTISEMENT
Israel’s settlements have been seen by critics as human rights violations and some say they are an obstacle to achieving peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
Trump argued that the U.N. resolution would be a bigger impediment to negotiations between the two sides.
"As the United States has long maintained, peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians will only come through direct negotiations between the parties, and not through the imposition of terms by the United Nations,” the president-elect said in a statement Thursday.
"This puts Israel in a very poor negotiating position and is extremely unfair to all Israelis."
Samantha Power
Samantha Jane PowerThe Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - COVID-19 vaccine moves ahead. Congress? Not so much The Memo: Tension builds around key Biden nominees Five things to know about Antony Blinken, Biden's pick for State MORE, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., explained the move in a statement to the council, condemning Netanyahu for continuing settlement expansion while paying lip service to the idea of a two-state solution.
Samantha Jane PowerThe Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - COVID-19 vaccine moves ahead. Congress? Not so much The Memo: Tension builds around key Biden nominees Five things to know about Antony Blinken, Biden's pick for State MORE, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., explained the move in a statement to the council, condemning Netanyahu for continuing settlement expansion while paying lip service to the idea of a two-state solution.“One cannot simultaneously champion expanding Israeli settlements and champion a viable two-state solution that would end the conflict,” she said. “One has to make a choice between settlements and separation.”
The news of the U.S. abstention was met with fierce condemnation from many on the right, including the influential American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), just minutes after some top Democrats had called on the administration to veto the measure.
“This is absolutely shameful," House Speaker Paul Ryan
Paul Davis RyanTrump's political future depends on whether he can change McCarthy woos Freedom Caucus with eye on Speakership American Greatness editor on how Trump's abandonment of populism affected 2020 election MORE (R-Wis.) said in a statement. "Today's vote is a blow to peace that sets a dangerous precedent for further diplomatic efforts to isolate and demonize Israel. Our unified Republican government will work to reverse the damage done by this administration, and rebuild our alliance with Israel."
Paul Davis RyanTrump's political future depends on whether he can change McCarthy woos Freedom Caucus with eye on Speakership American Greatness editor on how Trump's abandonment of populism affected 2020 election MORE (R-Wis.) said in a statement. "Today's vote is a blow to peace that sets a dangerous precedent for further diplomatic efforts to isolate and demonize Israel. Our unified Republican government will work to reverse the damage done by this administration, and rebuild our alliance with Israel."Sen. Tom Cotton
Tom Bryant CottonDefense bill battle showcases 2024 GOP hopefuls Overnight Defense: Congress sends Trump defense bill he threatened to veto | Senate approves stopgap spending bill to prevent shutdown | Navy searching for sailor overboard Senate passes defense bill, setting up Trump veto fight MORE (R-Ark.) blasted the Obama administration's move as "cowardly" and "disgraceful" and threatened to push for reprisals against the U.N. and members of the security council.
Tom Bryant CottonDefense bill battle showcases 2024 GOP hopefuls Overnight Defense: Congress sends Trump defense bill he threatened to veto | Senate approves stopgap spending bill to prevent shutdown | Navy searching for sailor overboard Senate passes defense bill, setting up Trump veto fight MORE (R-Ark.) blasted the Obama administration's move as "cowardly" and "disgraceful" and threatened to push for reprisals against the U.N. and members of the security council."The UN and nations supporting this resolution have now imperiled all forms of U.S. assistance," Cotton said in a statement. "I look forward to working with President-elect Trump and members of both parties in Congress to decide what the consequences for this action will be.”
Minutes before the vote, top Democrats like Sen. Cory Booker (N.J.) and incoming Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer
Chuck SchumerTrump faces bipartisan, international pushback on Western Sahara recognition Members of both parties hail Supreme Court decision Committees reach bipartisan deal to protect patients from surprise medical bills MORE (N.Y.) had urged the president to veto the resolution.
Chuck SchumerTrump faces bipartisan, international pushback on Western Sahara recognition Members of both parties hail Supreme Court decision Committees reach bipartisan deal to protect patients from surprise medical bills MORE (N.Y.) had urged the president to veto the resolution.J Street, a liberal Jewish organization that favors a two-state solution, came to Obama's side, applauding the move in a statement Friday afternoon.
"This resolution conveys the overwhelming support of the international community, including Israel’s closest friends and allies, for the two-state solution, and their deep concern over the deteriorating status quo between Israelis and Palestinians and the lack of meaningful progress toward peace," Jeremy Ben-Ami, the group's president, said in the statement.
"It is also a clear signal that the international community’s patience with an occupation of almost 50 years has limits."
- Updated at 3:04 p.m.
