AMERICAN JEWISH CONGRESS STATEMENT ON TODAY'S ANTI-ISRAEL UN SECURITY COUNCIL VOTE

 AMERICAN JEWISH CONGRESS STATEMENT ON TODAY'S ANTI-ISRAEL UN SECURITY COUNCIL VOTE

For Immediate Release

December 23, 2016

AMERICAN JEWISH CONGRESS STATEMENT ON TODAY'S ANTI-ISRAEL UN SECURITY COUNCIL VOTE

After the passing of today’s anti-Israel resolution at the United Nations Security Council, with 14 countries voting in favor and the United States abstaining, American Jewish Congress President Jack Rosen released the following statement:

“In the strongest terms possible, the American Jewish Congress is deeply disappointed with the Obama Administration for shamefully abstaining on today's anti-Israel UN Security Council resolution.  By the U.S. abstaining, President Obama abandoned long standing American foreign policy of vetoing one-sided resolutions against Israel at the United Nations, and in doing so, he steps away from his Presidency turning his back on the unbreakable bond with our great ally Israel. 

“It has long been the policy of our organization that reaching a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can only be achieved by direct negotiations between Israeli and Palestinian leadership, with outside interface, especially by the UN, which continues to be an inherently biased anti-Israel institution.  Today, by allowing the Security Council to condemn Israel and disgracefully applaud the passing of an anti-Israel resolution, it prematurely and unfairly determined a core final issue of the conflict, while undermining Israel’s position at the negotiating table.

Further it opens the door for legitimized harmful boycotts and other commercial predatory practices against Israel.

“Obama’s Israel legacy will now be viewed as anti-Israel by a majority of Americans, and historians won't have to argue over it, as his feckless Iran Nuclear Deal and troubled relationship with Prime Minister Netanyahu have already given justified reasons for many that he was not a supporter of Israel.  Accordingly, the American Jewish Congress now adopts this view with the adoption of today’s resolution.

“As we face challenging times, with soon to celebrate the holiday of lights - Chanukah, we remind ourselves that despite today’s outcome we must continue to be a light upon the nations.  Moving forward, we dedicate and commit ourselves to rekindling the U.S.- Israel relationship and working with the next administration on repairing the damage done today.  We are greatly appreciative to President-Elect Donald Trump for his efforts to fight for Israel on this critical issue."

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