As of noon Friday, the latest word from inside the United Nations was that the proposed resolution would be tabled. After days of speculation, strong comments from President-elect Donald Trump, and uncertainty surrounding President Obama’s stance, the resolution condemning Israeli settlements was “indefinitely postponed,” according to diplomats.
But “indefinitely” turned out to be “until later in the day.”
Four Security Council members – New Zealand, Venezuela, Senegal, and Malaysia – pushed for a vote despite Egypt’s desire to postpone. When it came time for U.S. Ambassador Samantha Powers to vote, she abstained on behalf of the Obama administration. The resolution passed, drawing applause from the world governing body…but sharp condemnation from U.S. and Israeli leaders.
Ahead of the vote, Trump spoke out against the resolution.
“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,” Trump said on Thursday. “This puts Israel in a very poor negotiating position and is extremely unfair to all Israelis.”
Minutes after the vote on Friday, Trump made his displeasure known in an uncharacteristically terse tweet: “As to the U.N., things will be different after Jan. 20th.”
You don’t always need a lot of words to get your message across, eh?
Since the early 1980s, the U.S. has consistently vetoed any such resolutions brought before the UN. While numerous presidential administrations have publicly criticized Israeli settlements, they have always stuck up for our chief Middle Eastern ally when push comes to shove.
So why did Obama choose to make this statement?
According to Obama’s deputy national security adviser, proven liar Ben Rhodes, the president felt that Israeli settlements were standing in the way of peace.
“We 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,” Rhodes told reporters.
But that’s not what happened. Obama had the same concerns in 2011, when he approved the veto of a similar resolution. He made this move for one reason and one reason only. He wanted to send a petty message to Trump that said, “I’m still the president and I don’t have to do what you tell me.”
Well, message received. Hope you got a nice little ego boost, Mr. President. Hope you get all the accolades you want from the Muslim world and the American left.
It doesn’t change the fact that a new dawn is coming.
Good riddance to this long, dark night.
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