For the far-right factions of Israel’s government who have Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in their thrall, and for their supporters in the USA, this is clearly the desired outcome. “The truth is that trends on the ground, violence, terrorism, incitement (ph), settlement expansion, and the seemingly endless occupation, they are combining to destroy hopes for peace on both sides and increasingly cementing an irreversible one state reality that most people do not actually want”. “The Egyptians and Palestinians have long made clear to all of us, all the worldwide community, their intentions to bring a resolution to a vote before the end of the year”, he said.
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“This step is a pathetic step”.
Habayit Hayehudi leader and Education Minister Naftali Bennett also thanked Trump, tweeting, “We’ve stayed strong for 3000 years; we can surely stay strong for another 30 days!”
Kerry, in a major speech on the frozen Middle East peace process, said “equivalent swaps” of land could happen to modify the border, but only by mutual consent.
New Zealand’s co-sponsorship of the UN Security Council resolution, which said the settlements violated worldwide law and undermined a two-state solution in Israel’s conflict with Palestine, has already prompted a strong reaction from the Netanyahu Government.
Mr Netanyahu said he looked forward to working with the Trump administration to repeal the UN Security Council resolution.
The Israeli leader said Kerry “obsessively dealt with settlements”, which the United States strongly opposes, in the speech.
“We believe there will be a bit of a defence in terms of the critiques of the USA position”.
President Obama’s administration has refused to veto the UN’s resolution, prompting his replacement to call him “inflammatory”.
“My only concern is that Kerry will use his speech to try to water down some of the very clear statements made in the Security Council resolution”.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his government “cannot and will not” accept the decision by the resolution. In the West Bank (the historic regions of Judea and Samaria), Jewish communities have to live under constant, armed protection or they face slaughter. Back in 1967, Resolution 242 was passed by the UN Security Council calling on Israel to withdraw its military from the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Gaza Strip and Golan Heights.
“We can not continue to let Israel be treated with such total disdain and disrespect”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) speaks to Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump during their meeting in New York, September 25, 2016.
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Speaking to a weekly meeting of his Cabinet, Netanyahu said Israel was considering a “plan of action” against the United Nations, without elaborating. The decades-old consensus on a two-state solution is supported by the Arab League, the EU, Russia, the UN General Assembly, and the Obama Administration.
