Apparently, May, too late, realized she and her government had plundered badly and she in turn publicly criticized Secretary of State Kerry for his post resolution comments justifying the USA support for this anti-Israel position.
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The conflict between Israel and Palestine has been in the Western spotlight in recent days after a United Nations resolution condemning Israel’s expansion of settlements.
Although we think Netanyahu and Trump are on the wrong course to bring peace, nothing in Obama’s sudden shift from traditional USA policy is going to make prospects better.
But was it too little, too late?
Kerry also discussed the Palestinian refugees, without even mentioning the equal member of Jewish refugees from Arab and Muslim countries. Because it was the sort of speech that would have made great leadership sense if only Kerry had given it several years ago.
When the United States abstained from vetoing an anti-Israel United Nations Security Council resolution on December 23, there was no official explanation as to why. That resolution, though heavily biased against the Jewish state, was far less hostile than the one allowed to pass last month.
Addressing a conference of Israeli ambassadors and chiefs of mission in Europe at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said that it was likely that any conclusions reached at the Paris summit could be turned into another resolution. If the report is true, the Palestinian delegation also supposedly met with representatives of Homeland Security and the Central Intelligence Agency.
This resolution also had the effect of emboldening the anti-Israel, anti-Semitic BDS movement which has been rigorously opposed by the US Congress.
Dovish Jewish groups and some Democrats spoke out in defense of the Obama administration. Following the passing of Resolution 2334, Fatah reissued that picture, adding the words “Thank You” above a list of the 14 nations that voted in favor (the USA, which abstained in the vote, was left out).
Seeing the occupation with your own eyes is a whole other perspective.
Kerry said there were no American fingerprints on the resolution and that it was totally the idea of the Egyptians and Palestinians. They hope it will force Israel to give them land without giving anything in exchange. They would make a contiguous Palestinian state impossible.
Netanyahu on Tuesday said Israel’s key diplomatic task in the coming two weeks was to prevent an additional Palestine-related resolution at the Security Council. They have an ally in the Obama administration, but only for a few more days. A contiguous Palestinian state is certainly possible even if all the existing settlements were to remain.
Based on shared values and mutual interests, this special relationship has led the United States to veto countless resolutions aiming to undermine the state of Israel.
If May wants to ensure a financially successful exit from European Union, which will make life hard for the exiting Brits, she and her government need Trump and America’s support to have a shot at making Britain- Great Britain again, outside the EU. In 2005, Israel dismantled all settlements in Gaza and four in the West Bank.
Why not leave the question of settlements open until there are new peace talks? The 1993 Oslo Accords divided up the West Bank into areas under Israeli, Palestinian, and joint control.
Among Israeli Jews, opinion about the role of settlements varies greatly depending on a number of factors. Secular Jews are somewhat ambivalent about settlements on occupied territory, with 42% saying they hurt Israel’s security and 31% saying they help. He has accused the Obama administration of a “shameful ambush”, as if the resolution were a dirty trick instead of a statement in line with longstanding American policy and worldwide law. Incentives from the Israeli government, as well as private donors, make settlement communities an attractive prospect for Israelis to move to.
By contrast, Arab-populated towns have a much lower developmental standard. Palestinians must navigate a network of checkpoints that significantly impact their daily lives.
Paramount in the whole Middle East process must be the concept that the parties must find peace between themselves.
Worldwide consensus about resolving the conflict has centered around the creation of two states – one for Israelis, one for Palestinians. The window for a two-State solution seems to be closing.
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Mr Abbott also argued Australia should look at following the plans of US President-elect Donald Trump, and consider moving its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Who are we to preach to Israel?
