Obama’s play with Israel name

Amir Masrouri (expert in regional affairs):

The United Nations Security Council has condemned Israel for its settlement expansion in the occupied Palestinian territories in a resolution to which the US abstained. It was the first time a resolution was approved against Israel without the US blocking its way. The US President Barack Obama actually showed his personal hostility towards the Israeli Prime Minster once more by the abstention.

Following the vote, the US president-elect, Donald Trump twitted in favor of Israel and asked Obama to veto the resolution. Many however suggest that by the abstention, Obama passed the ball to Trump to support Israel. Obama however turned into a target for Israeli media which condemned him for “leaving Israel alone” in the UN and failing to follow the Israeli decades-old policy in support of the Zionist regime.

Pressures however prompted the White House to put up a defensive face and call the vote in line with the bi-partisan policy in the US establishment against the settlement expansion as an impediment to peace in the Middle East. Trump’s tweets however showed that the reality is rather than what the White House claims to be.

Nevertheless, many may consider the US abstention as a last-ditch overture for peace in Palestine and a paving of the ground for resumption of negotiations with the occupiers however Palestinian groups would not relinquish their call for “River to Sea” land by the US move and continue to view any Israel talks as senseless.

Rather, Obama’s move would only translate into more opportunities and popularity for Trump for more political haggling with the pro-Israeli AIPAC lobby in the US. Obama actually has set up a goal for the president-elect.