{"id":17710,"date":"2016-12-24T09:33:24","date_gmt":"2016-12-24T09:33:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/?p=17710"},"modified":"2016-12-24T09:33:24","modified_gmt":"2016-12-24T09:33:24","slug":"why-obama-broke-with-israel-at-un","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/business\/why-obama-broke-with-israel-at-un.html","title":{"rendered":"Why Obama broke with Israel at UN"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Why Obama broke with Israel at UN<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Why Obama broke with Israel at UN:-<\/strong> The White House\u2019s decision to break with decades of U.S. policy and allow the U.N. Security Council to condemn Israeli settlements is the culmination of years of bad blood between President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.<\/span><\/p>\n

The decision won Obama criticism from across the political spectrum, and almost certainly wouldn’t have been made if Hillary Clinton had won the presidential election.<\/span><\/p>\n

It opened him up to condemnation from President-elect Donald Trump and the right, and could lead to a battle over U.S. funding for the U.N. in Congress.<\/span><\/p>\n

But Obama’s team decided it was worth it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben Rhodes, Obama\u2019s deputy national security adviser, said the rapid expansion of settlement activity under Netanyahu had put the possibility of a future peace agreement at risk.<\/span>
\n \u201cWe could not in good conscience veto a resolution that expressed concerns about the very trends that are eroding the foundation of a two-state solution,\u201d he told reporters.<\/span><\/p>\n

Netanyahu\u2019s office, in turn, made some of its harshest criticisms of Obama to date, accusing the president of plotting behind Israel\u2019s back to undermine the Jewish state.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Obama administration not only failed to protect Israel against this gang-up at the U.N., it colluded with it behind the scenes,\u201d Netanyahu\u2019s office said in a statement.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rhodes disputed that claim, saying that Obama only informed his national security team Friday morning of his decision to abstain from the vote. He said the U.S. had no role in drafting the resolution.<\/span><\/p>\n

But Rhodes said Netanyahu had only himself to blame for its passage, saying he failed to heed repeated U.S. warnings that increased settlement activity could lead to greater pressure from the international community.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPrime Minister Netanyahu had the opportunity to pursue policies that would have led to a different outcome today,\u201d Rhodes said.<\/span><\/p>\n

The administration\u2019s decision was borne out of frustration and a desire to resolve a conflict that has dogged generations of U.S. presidents.<\/span><\/p>\n

Multiple U.S. administrations have opposed Israeli settlement activity in areas claimed by Palestinians, calling them a major obstacle to a two-state solution. The language of Friday’s resolution was largely in line with that policy.<\/span><\/p>\n

But since 1980, the U.S. has vetoed settlement-related resolutions at the U.N.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rhodes explained the U.S. abstained from, instead of voted for, the resolution because it has long viewed the international body as an inappropriate venue to broker a Middle East peace deal due to anti-Israel sentiment of several member states.<\/span><\/p>\n

The move could backfire on Obama by emboldening Netanyahu and Trump to pursue hard-line policies toward Palestinians that contradict the president\u2019s approach.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs to the U.N., things will be different after Jan. 20th,\u201d Trump tweeted after the vote.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rhodes denied the president\u2019s decision would have any bearing on Trump\u2019s policies, which he said were set long before Friday\u2019s vote.<\/span><\/p>\n

But he also struggled to explain how it would improve the situation in the Middle East.<\/span><\/p>\n

Instead, the decision appeared to be one final chance for Obama to flex his muscles on the world stage in front of Trump, who has publicly taken stances on foreign policy at odds with the current administration.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere is one president at a time,\u201d Rhodes said. \u201cPresident Obama is the president of the United States until Jan. 20 and we are taking this action, of course, as U.S. policy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

That could make life difficult for the Israeli government down the road in possible peace negotiations, even though Trump appears poised change that policy.<\/span><\/p>\n

While the Security Council resolution does not carry practical consequences, it could give Palestinians a precedent to point to on settlement construction in future talks with the Israelis.<\/span><\/p>\n

That could have complicated Clinton\u2019s efforts to reach a peace deal if she had won the election. Now it will be Trump’s problem.<\/span><\/p>\n

Friday\u2019s vote could alter Obama\u2019s legacy on Israel.<\/span><\/p>\n

Obama has long defended himself from criticism that he did not do enough to aid his nation\u2019s chief ally in the Middle East, pointing to actions like the $38 billion military aid deal both nations struck this year.<\/span><\/p>\n

But critics say the move could embolden Israel\u2019s numerous enemies and invite new international pressure against the Jewish state.<\/span><\/p>\n

It also deepened an emerging split in the Democratic Party over Israel, which many Jewish groups worry could weaken bipartisan support for the country.<\/span><\/p>\n

Incoming Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) called the vote \u201cfrustrating, disappointing and confounding\u201d and said it will move Israel farther from peace.<\/span><\/p>\n

But the liberal Jewish group J Street applauded Obama, saying the vote \u201cconveys the overwhelming support of the international community.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who is Jewish, also came to Obama’s defense, saying the vote sends a “strong message that the United States still supports a two-state solution.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Yediot Aharonot, one of Israel\u2019s largest newspapers, called the vote \u201cthe lowest moment in the relations between the Israeli government and the Obama administration.”<\/span>
\n The vote also kick-started an effort by some Senate Republicans to reduce U.S. financial assistance to the U.N.<\/span><\/p>\n

Obama has long valued the U.N. as a venue to broker important international agreements on issues like climate change and prevent foreign wars.<\/span><\/p>\n

Any withdrawal of financial support would be a rebuke to the president\u2019s vision.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf we were to cut funding for the U.N. in response for this resolution, all we would be doing is hurting other people, hurting our own interests,\u201d Rhodes said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Source:-\u00a0http:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/administration\/311736-why-obama-broke-with-israel-at-un<\/span><\/div>\n

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t <\/div><\/div>\n\t\t