The United States - Israel relations took a big dip this week after Secretary of State John Kerry criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government for failing to be a bigger voice in the efforts to establish a more sustainable peace in the Middle East. In recent years, Kerry, who made establishing peace in the oil-rich region a cornerstone of his term, became the face of the Obama administration's attempts to pacify the Jewish state's "most extreme elements."
According to the New York Times, during a speech in the State Department's auditorium, Kerry stressed the importance of the United States' decision to abstain from the resolution condemning the building settlements in areas that are subject to disputes between Israel and Palestine. "Friends need to tell each other the hard truths, and friendships require mutual respect," he said. It can be remembered that a few days ago, Egypt successfully pushed for the vote on the resolution, passing with a 14-0 vote. The Guardian reports that the move strengthens the calls for a two-state solution in the current conflict.
Kerry's recent statements drew criticism from both parties, with Republican Senator John McCain and Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer expressing solidarity with Netanyahu. Netanyahu himself criticized the United States over the weekend, saying "friends don't take friends to the Security Council."
Political pundits will have to see if there will be a massive change in foreign policy when President-elect Donald Trump takes office next month. The Lawyer Herald will be posting more news and updates on the United States - Israel relations and the repercussions of Obama's abstention with the veto in the coming weeks.
Will the future of the United States - Israel relations be in danger due to the fact that the United States abstained from vetoing the UN Security Council resolution? Will this lose the United States an important ally in the Middle East? Fire away in the Lawyer Herald comments section. Meanwhile, watch the UN security council passing the resolution in the video below.
