The UN Just Bullied Israel While The US Stood By And Watched

If this doesn’t tick you off, you haven’t been paying attention.

According to this, the United Nations voted today on whether they would allow Israel to build settlements in the West Bank. Of course, this being the UN, they voted to call these settlements “illegal.” The delegation from the United States could have cast the veto vote on this resolution, but they decided to pull a Barack Obama and abstain from the vote –

The US abstained in the vote that was approved by 14 of the council’s 15 members to applause. The resolution first introduced by Egypt in coordination with the Palestinians calls Israel “settlement building” in East Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank a “flagrant violation under international law” and demands Israel discontinue all settlement activities immediately.

A veto by the US – or any of the five permanent members of the council- would have killed it.

Speaking to the body after the vote, Susan Power, the US Ambassador to the United Nations, explained why the White House did not rise to defeat it.

“Further settlement activity is in no way necessary for the security of Israel,” she said.

Understandably, the Israeli delegates were not happy –

“It was to be expected that Israel’s greatest ally would act in accordance with the values that we share – and would have vetoed this disgraceful resolution,” said Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon.

Here’s the thing – the entire UN could have denounced Israel. We kind of expect that garbage from them. But the fact that the United States just stood by and watched is embarrassing and insulting. Not just to Israel, but to Americans who value freedom around the world.

The only good thing to come out of this was President-Elect Donald Trump’s reaction to the vote –

As to the U.N., things will be different after Jan. 20th.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 23, 2016

I’ll bet it will. This is beyond ridiculous.