UN condemns Israeli settlements, USA abstains vote

[Lion Heart 15,041]

The UN Security Council passed a resolution 14-0 condemning the construction of Israeli settlements in east Jerusalem and the West Bank. The resolution called continuing construction in the Palestinian territory a “flagrant violation” of international law, and it called on Israel to halt all settlement activities in order to salvage a two-state solution.

The U.S. abstained from the vote, in a departure from past U.S. diplomatic practice of vetoing such a resolution in support of Israel.    

U.S. Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power quoted President Ronald Reagan in her remarks following the vote, saying that settlement activity is not conducive to passing a comprehensive two-state solution.

The U.S. abstention was the stunning culmination of years of icy relations between President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. And it put Mr. Obama in open conflict with President-elect Trump on a key foreign policy matter at a time when they’ve been promising a smooth transition.

Congressional leadership also condemned the vote. House Speaker Paul Ryan called the vote “shameful.”

“Today’s vote is a blow to peace that sets a dangerous precedent for further diplomatic efforts to isolate and demonize Israel,” he said in a statement. “Our unified Republican government will work to reverse the damage done by this administration, and rebuild our alliance with Israel.”

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-New York, who will be the new Senate minority leader, says he has urged the administration to veto the resolution -- “an abstention is not good enough,” he wrote in a statement Friday, and he accused the U.N. of “one-sidedness” and an “anti-Israel bias” on the settlements issue. 

..

Mr. Trump has signaled he will be far more sympathetic to Israel. His campaign platform made no mention of the establishment of a Palestinian state, a core policy objective of Democratic and Republican presidents over the past two decades. He also has vowed to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, potentially putting the U.S. at odds with the Palestinians and almost the entire remainder of the international community. Trump’s pick for ambassador to Israel, Jewish-American lawyer David Friedman, is a donor and vocal supporter of the settlements.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/u-n-security-council-votes-14-0-to-condemn-israeli-settlement-construction/

[lego 44,165]

For the first time, yes.  

 

 

[Azor Ahai 18,861]

Inb4 UN is antisemetic

[lego 44,165]

The irony in statements of the Republicans.

"blow to peace"

"one-sided"

"demonize"

 

 

[Morphine Prince 109,927]

The repercussions of this will be interesting. 

[SchwineLove 1,375]

Cannot wait for those justifications that I always don't understand.

 

Well, I was exposed to that pro-Palestine thoughts tho but then I read some opinions in GGD showing different sides. Still cannot grasp the justification. I am sure lack of knowledge on this matter so I will just read.

[River 128,630]

I'm happy, another fail to Netanyahu, it's time for him to go! he destroyed Israel too much!!

I'm tired to see my taxes money going to the settlements, blooming them while so many people in Israel are poor, holocaust survivors are searching for food in the garbage, not enough beds in the hospitals and so on.. and the reason is that the majority of the money goes to the settlements!!

I'm tired to see this useless block for the peace.

Enough is enough and I'm happy that Obama gave the last f-uck you to Netanyahu before he ends his presidency.