The UN Security Council passed a resolution Friday urging Israel to halt building settlements on occupied Palestinian land, in an unexpected vote from which the US abstained.
The US’s ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, abstained from voting on the resolution, which has been perceived as a slight against Israel.
“The grudge match between Obama and Netanyahu finally reached its peak,” said Jonathan Schanzer, a Middle East analyst and vice president of research at the Foundation for Defence of Democracies.
“This is a move that Obama has been orchestrating for months if not years,” Schanzer continued, referring to the chilly relationship between the American and Israeli leaders. “He had several options at his disposal, but a United Nations Security Council Resolution is the most permanent among them. Indeed, you can’t unring this bell. “
Both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President-elect Donald Trump urged the US to vote against the resolution, which was sponsored by Egypt.
Read the full article by Natasha Bertrand at Business Insider Australia.