Alwaght- The decision by the US government to abstain during recent UN Security Council vote on resolution to condemn Israeli settlements showed Washington's frustration over the regime in Tel Aviv, New York Times wrote on Saturday.
"The administration’s decision not to veto the measure reflected its accumulated frustration over Israeli settlements. The American abstention on the vote also broke a longstanding policy of shielding Israel from action at the United Nations that described the settlements as illegal," the daily wrote.
The US daily believes the move by Obama government on its last days will not have practical effects but will lead to an increased isolation for Tel Aviv regime which has defied international calls to end illegal settlements.
The article goes on to say "while the resolution is not expected to have any practical impact on the ground, it is regarded as a major rebuff to Israel, one that could increase its isolation over the paralyzed peace process with Israel’s Palestinian neighbors, who have sought to establish their own state on territory held by Israel."
"Applause broke out in the 15-member Security Council’s chambers after the vote on the measure, which passed 14 to 0, with the United States ambassador, Samantha Power, raising her hand as the lone abstention. Israel’s ambassador, Danny Danon, denounced the measure, and castigated the council members who had approved it," the daily says.
The article also mentions popular support for the move by quoting a commenter from Portland, saying "The decision not to veto broke an American tradition of serving as Israel’s diplomatic shield. The US should have done this years ago when Netanyahu's duplicity on a two state solution became clear."
"Good for him. The settlements are a black mark on Israel's history and honor. The settlements policy will continue to endanger Israel," another comment says.
The resolution describes the settlement building as a “major obstacle” to peace and demands that Israeli regime stops the construction, which most the world regards as illegal.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had scrambled in recent days to stop the measure from coming to a vote, issued a blistering denunciation afterward.
“Israel rejects this shameful anti-Israel resolution at the U.N. and will not abide by its terms,” Netanyahu said in a statement.
He also immediately retaliated against two of the countries that sponsored the resolution. He ordered Israel’s ambassadors to New Zealand and Senegal to return home for consultations, canceled a planned visit to Israel next month by Senegal’s foreign minister and cut off all aid programs to Senegal.
The vote came a day after US President-elect Donald Trump personally intervened to keep the measure, which had been originally proposed by Egypt, from coming up for a vote on Thursday, as scheduled. Trump’s aides said he had spoken to Netanyahu. Both men also spoke to the Egyptian president, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Egypt postponed the vote under what that country’s United Nations ambassador called intense pressure.
But in a show of mounting exasperation, four other countries on the Security Council, Malaysia, New Zealand, Senegal and Venezuela, snatched the resolution away from Egypt and put it up for a vote Friday.
