Tel Aviv, December 26 (RHC)-- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says ties with the United Nations will be reassessed now that the Security Council has adopted a resolution calling for a halt on building illegal settlements.
“I instructed the foreign ministry to complete within a month a re-evaluation of all our contacts with the United Nations, including the Israeli funding of UN institutions and the presence of UN representatives in Israel,” said Netanyahu over the weekend.
On Friday, UNSC Resolution 2334 was passed with 14 votes in favor and one abstention -- by the United States. It condemned the establishment of settlements by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territories a "flagrant violation under international law," which it said was “dangerously imperiling the viability” of peace and the establishment of a Palestinian state.
"The decision that was taken was biased and shameful, but we will withstand it," added Netanyahu. “I have already instructed to stop about 30 million shekels (£6.3m) in funding to five UN institutions, five bodies, that are especially hostile to Israel ... and there is more to come,” he added.
Netanyahu said that the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama had allowed the UNSC to pass the resolution by refusing to veto it.
Earlier, Israel’s seething anger towards its ally, for what it perceived as a betrayal, prompted Netanyahu to summon the U.S. ambassador to Israel. While the envoys of 10 other nations were also summoned by the Israeli Foreign Ministry, harsher words were reserved for Washington after Friday’s vote.
Israel has also announced that it would recall its ambassadors to New Zealand and Senegal, cancel a planned state visit by the Senegalese foreign minister, as well as cut off all aid to the West African country.
More than half a million Israelis live in over 230 settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the West Bank including East Jerusalem. The international community regards the settlements as illegal as they are built on private Palestinian lands. Israel has defied international calls for a halt to its settlement activities
Israeli Prime Minister Says Tel Aviv to Reassess UN Ties Following Security Council Resolution
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