Ben Rhodes, the White House's deputy national security adviser, also dismissed criticism by President-elect Donald Trump of the US decision saying President Barack Obama was president of the United States until January 20.
'We could not in good conscience veto a resolution that expressed concerns about the very trends that are eroding the foundation for a two-state solution,' Rhodes told a conference call.
He added that the administration is 'certain' that Trump would take a different stance when he enters office.
'Our position is that there is one president at a time,' Rhodes said. 'President Obama is the president until January 20, and we are taking this action of course as US policy.'
By abstaining from voting on Friday, the outgoing Obama administration brushed aside Donald Trump's demands that the US exercise its veto and provided a climax to years of icy relations with Israel's leadership.
The decision to abstain from the council's 14-0 vote is one of the biggest American rebukes of its longstanding ally in recent memory.
And it could have significant ramifications for the Jewish state, potentially hindering Israel's negotiating position in future peace talks. Given the world's widespread opposition to settlements, the action will be almost impossible for anyone, including Trump, to reverse.
Nevertheless, Trump vowed via Twitter: 'As to the UN, things will be different after Jan. 20th.'
The resolution said Israel's settlements in lands the Palestinians want to include in their future state have 'no legal validity.' It demanded a halt to such activities for the sake of 'salvaging the two-state solution.'
Loud applause erupted in the council chamber after US Ambassador Samantha Power permitted the resolution to pass.
Friday's condemnation, a day after Egypt suddenly postponed a scheduled showdown, capped days of frantic diplomacy in capitals around the world.
American officials indicated they would have been prepared to let the resolution pass, despite blocking such proposals for years. Israeli officials said they were aware of such plans and turned to Trump for support.
The US president-elect sent a tweet urging President Barack Obama to block the UN effort. Egypt then pulled its resolution, with US officials citing fierce Israeli pressure as the reason.
Israeli officials then accused Obama of colluding with the Palestinians in a 'shameful move' against the Jewish state. Washington denied the charge.
Egypt then pulled its resolution, with US officials citing fierce Israeli pressure as the reason. Israeli officials then accused Obama of colluding with the Palestinians in a 'shameful move' against the Jewish state. Washington denied the charge.
Most of the world is opposed to Israel's construction of Jewish settlements in lands it seized in the 1967 Mideast War.
The primary holdout at the UN has been the United States, which sees settlements as illegitimate but has traditionally used its veto power as a permanent member of the Security Council to block such resolutions on the grounds that Israeli-Palestinian disputes should be addressed through negotiation.
Trump has signaled he will be far more sympathetic to Israel's stances on the two territories, where some Israelis live.
His campaign platform made no mention of the establishment of a Palestinian state, a core policy objective of Democratic and Republican presidents over the past two decades.
He also has vowed to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which would anger Palestinians and lack international support.
Trump's pick for ambassador to Israel, Jewish-American lawyer David Friedman, is a donor and vocal supporter of the settlements.
Daily Mail
No comments:
Post a Comment