Israel Is Still Struggling to Survive UN Bullying and Diplomatic Setbacks
Trump has made public his support for Israel, but an improved relationship won't ease the restrictions set by UN Resolution 2344.
• December 23, 2016: “As to the U.N., things will be different after Jan. 20th.”
• December 24, 2016: “The big loss yesterday for Israel in the United Nations will make it much harder to negotiate peace. Too bad, but we will get it done anyway!”
• December 26, 2016: “The United Nations has such great potential but right now it is just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time. So sad!”
Notwithstanding his dismay, it will be difficult, if not impossible, for the United States to repeal Resolution 2344. The votes are just not there, and even if they were, the UK, France, China or Russia—all of whom voted in favor of Resolution 2344—could veto a repeal resolution. Accordingly, Resolution 2344 may be one of President Obama’s most durable, if dubious, legacies.
President Trump has sent a message of support to Israel by hosting Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu at the White House. The Trump administration is also committed to recognizing Jerusalem (at least the pre-1967 Western Jerusalem sector) as the capital of Israel by moving the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, although this has yet to occur. It has also been suggested that President Trump could press for Israel to obtain NATO membership, although such a step would likely face strong opposition from Turkey and a number of European nations.
Three months since its passage, Resolution 2344 has done nothing to advance the Middle East peace process. Israel is poised to build addition settlement in east Jerusalem and other pre-1967 border locales. The Palestinian Authority and its supporters at the UN have not been able to build upon the momentum of the resolution to further isolate or punish Israel or to obtain full UN membership for the Palestinians. Under President Trump, United States policy has reverted to its traditional approach toward Israel as a strong American ally. Nevertheless, Resolution 2344 is an established UN precedent that purports to turn Israel and hundreds of thousands of its citizens into “flagrant” violators of international law. As such, it is an unmistakable diplomatic and international blow to Israel that may have a lasting impact on the nation.
Robert C. O’Brien is a partner at Larson O’Brien LLP. He served as a U.S. Representative to the United Nations General Assembly. O’Brien was also a senior advisor to Gov. Scott Walker and Gov. Mitt Romney as well as Sen. Ted Cruz during their presidential campaigns. His book While America Slept: Restoring American Leadership to a World in Crisis (Encounter Books) was released in September. He can be followed on Twitter: @robertcobrien.
Image: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses reporters on June 27, 2016. Flickr/U.S. Department of State