Just three days into the 115th Congress, the newly sworn-in Congress sent a resounding message of overwhelmingly bipartisan support for Israel.
Last Thursday, the House passed a resolution declaring its objection to the U.N. Resolution condemning Israeli settlements.
Hear my comments to USA Radio Network’s John Clemens
U.N. Security Council Resolution 2334 decries Israel’s settlements in Judea and Samaria as major obstacles to the peace process between the Israelis and Palestinians with only passing reference to the need for the Palestinian Authority to stop promoting acts of violent terrorism against Israel.
UNSC Res. 2334 calls Israel “the occupying power.” The term “occupation” is used to discredit Israel’s historic right to the land and falsely implies they are the aggressor. The resolution claims the Old City of Jerusalem, the Western Wall, and the Temple Mount are “occupied territories.” Millennia of history must be ignored to make such a claim.
Hear my comments to USA Radio Network’s John Clemens
This U.N. resolution only passed because the United States choose to abstain from the vote instead of using its veto power. It is the first time in over 35 years there has been a vote on the question of settlements, and it only occurred because the Obama Administration telegraphed that the United States would abstain from the vote instead of using its veto power.
The deliberate inaction of the Obama Administration to allow UNSC Res 2334 to pass is appalling but not surprising — the Administration took one final jab at Israel on its way out the door.
Hear my comments to USA Radio Network’s John Clemens
The reaction of the new Congress, from both sides of the aisle, signals there will be a return to the norm of a close and cherished relationship between the United States and Israel. The support for Israel is so widespread that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer are both on the same page.
However, the House vote is the greatest indicator, due to the fact that the House of Representatives is the chamber closest to the American people. Last Thursday, the House passed a resolution to object to UNSC Res 2334 with overwhelming bipartisan support in a 342-80 vote, with four members voting present on H. Res 11.
Congress has clearly demonstrated where the American people stand, and that’s with Israel.