The White House orchestrated a “gang-up” against Israel on last week’s UN settlement vote, Israel’s ambassador to Washington said yesterday as Israel indicated it could expedite plans for more settlement homes.
Ambassador Ron Dermer said the Israeli government planned to show evidence of the alleged US manoeuvring in due time.
“What is outrageous is that the United States was actually behind that gang-up. I think it was a very sad day, really a shameful chapter,” Mr Dermer said on CNN.
“We have clear evidence of it. We will present that evidence to the new administration through the appropriate channels. And if they want to share it with the US people they’re welcome to do it.”
Mr Dermer said the Israeli government was “deeply disappointed” with Washington.
On Saturday, the UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding “Israel immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem”. The US refrained from casting its veto, enabling the adoption of the measure, the first resolution since 1979 to condemn Israel over its settlement policy.
Tonight a Jerusalem planning committee is to discuss issuing building permits for 618 housing units in the mainly Palestinian eastern sector of the city, according to the Ir Amim NGO, which monitors settlement building. Meir Turjeman, Jerusalem’s deputy mayor and committee head, has reportedly also spoken of advancing plans for about 5600 other units.
Read the full article by AFP at The Australian.