Netanyahu: Israel to Reassess Its Relations with the United Nations

Following the approval of the resolution "Immediate Halt to Israeli Settlements," the Prime Minister of Israel states that his government will reassess its relations with the United Nations. The UN Security Council, for the first time in recent years, voted on a resolution calling for an immediate and complete halt to Israeli settlements, which was passed without a veto from the United States. The approval of this resolution has faced various reactions. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, who had previously criticized it, now says he has instructed his government officials to seek ways to reassess relations with the UN and also payments to it. He stated, "I have asked the Foreign Minister to prepare a plan for reassessing all our contacts with the United Nations, including payments to its institutions and the presence of our representatives in this organization within a month." The Prime Minister of Israel added that he has currently ordered the halt of 30 million shekels (about 8 million dollars) in aid payments to five UN agencies that "are explicitly hostile to Israel." The approval of the resolution without a US veto is described as breaking a long-standing tradition. Historically, US presidents have always supported the Israeli government, and the relationship between the two countries is considered extraordinarily close and strategic. However, during Barack Obama's presidency, other tensions arose between his administration and Netanyahu's government, which were described as "unprecedented" in some instances. Israel has been a staunch opponent of the nuclear agreement with Iran, which Washington ultimately concluded. Reuters reports that many countries consider Israel's actions in settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem to be "illegal" and view them as an obstacle to peace. John Kerry, the US Secretary of State, also defended the passed resolution, stating that his government's action "was aimed at achieving a fundamental goal, one that preserves the possibility of a two-state solution (Israel and Palestine), a solution that all US administrations have agreed upon for decades and is the only path to peace between Israel and the Palestinians." According to Reuters, Israel has rejected the illegality of the settlements and their obstruction of the peace process, while also claiming a historical and religious right over Jerusalem. Israel took control of East Jerusalem (Jerusalem) during the so-called "Six-Day War" in 1967, which the UN views as an occupation of the area. Furthermore, from Israel's perspective, Jerusalem is its capital.