WASHINGTON: The White House orchestrated a “gang-up” against Israel on last week’s UN settlement vote, its ambassador to Washington said Monday, in the latest sign of anger between the longtime allies.
Israel’s ambassador Ron Dermer said in an interview with CNN that his government plans to show evidence of the alleged US maneuvering 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,” the Israeli diplomat told 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,” Dermer said, adding that the Israeli government is “deeply disappointed” with Washington over the UN vote.
On Friday, the UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding that “Israel immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem.”
The United States — which has a veto —refrained from casting its vote, enabling the adoption of the measure, the first resolution since 1979 to condemn Israel over its settlement policy.
Dermer accused the Obama administration of helping Palestinians “wage a diplomatic and legal war against Israel.”
They do not want to negotiate peace with us, which is why they’ve avoided negotiations for eight years,” he said.
“What do the Palestinians want? What they want is to blame Israel for the lack of peace and to internationalize the conflict,” Dermer continued.
“What this resolution just did is it gave the Palestinians ammunition in their diplomatic and legal war against Israel. And the US not only didn’t stop it, they were behind it.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu summoned US Ambassador Daniel Shapiro Sunday to express his displeasure.
The Haaretz daily’s website said that for Israel to summon an American ambassador was “considered a most unusual step.”
“Even more unusual is the fact that unlike the other envoys who were summoned on Sunday to the foreign ministry, Netanyahu will conduct the conversation himself at his office,” it said ahead of the meeting.
Meanwhile, Israel has postponed this week’s visit of Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman following the UN vote, officials said Monday.
The move was the latest by Israel targeting countries that supported Friday’s resolution.
Ukraine, currently a non-permanent member of the Security Council, in turn, summoned the Israeli ambassador in Kiev for further discussion, the Foreign Ministries of both countries said.
It was unclear when or if the visit would occur following the postponement.
Ukraine’s foreign ministry said it “expressed disappointment with the emotional reaction of individual Israeli officials and politicians concerning the vote in New York.”
Israel’s ambassador Ron Dermer said in an interview with CNN that his government plans to show evidence of the alleged US maneuvering 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,” the Israeli diplomat told 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,” Dermer said, adding that the Israeli government is “deeply disappointed” with Washington over the UN vote.
On Friday, the UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding that “Israel immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem.”
The United States — which has a veto —refrained from casting its vote, enabling the adoption of the measure, the first resolution since 1979 to condemn Israel over its settlement policy.
Dermer accused the Obama administration of helping Palestinians “wage a diplomatic and legal war against Israel.”
They do not want to negotiate peace with us, which is why they’ve avoided negotiations for eight years,” he said.
“What do the Palestinians want? What they want is to blame Israel for the lack of peace and to internationalize the conflict,” Dermer continued.
“What this resolution just did is it gave the Palestinians ammunition in their diplomatic and legal war against Israel. And the US not only didn’t stop it, they were behind it.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu summoned US Ambassador Daniel Shapiro Sunday to express his displeasure.
The Haaretz daily’s website said that for Israel to summon an American ambassador was “considered a most unusual step.”
“Even more unusual is the fact that unlike the other envoys who were summoned on Sunday to the foreign ministry, Netanyahu will conduct the conversation himself at his office,” it said ahead of the meeting.
Meanwhile, Israel has postponed this week’s visit of Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman following the UN vote, officials said Monday.
The move was the latest by Israel targeting countries that supported Friday’s resolution.
Ukraine, currently a non-permanent member of the Security Council, in turn, summoned the Israeli ambassador in Kiev for further discussion, the Foreign Ministries of both countries said.
It was unclear when or if the visit would occur following the postponement.
Ukraine’s foreign ministry said it “expressed disappointment with the emotional reaction of individual Israeli officials and politicians concerning the vote in New York.”
