Why the US declined vetoing anti-Israeli UN resolution

Amir Ali Kalhor:

Outgoing US president, Barack Obama voted to an anti-Israeli UN resolution on the illegal settlements last week in a move that gave rise to many questions as to the actual US position on Israel. Obama however is the most exceptional president in the US history in terms of supporting Israel. Note that he had already blocked any other anti-Israeli resolutions during the 95-month span of his presidency. The vote however was given to a resolution that was rare in the past 36 years as of the day Israel was fabricated.

Other US presidents have already declined vetoing many anti-Israeli resolutions during their tenure with Reagn, Senior Bush, Clinton, and Junior Bush refusing to veto 21, 9, 3 and 6 resolutions of the nature respectively. Obama then may be considered as the most pro-Israeli president and the latest resolution may have been a setup to offer a positive image of the outgoing figure.

Wall Street Journal had already speculated a positive US vote in October 2016, calling it a move by Obama not to leave a failed record on the Palestinian issue behind. It may also be interpreted as a goal set-up for the next president, Donald Trump as it would provide him with more opportunities to build warmer us-Israeli relations.

Be that as it may, the resolution will bear some omen for Palestine with Israel facing a major block from now on when dealing with illegal settlements. It would also serve as a solid legal basis for condemning the regime of Israel and pushing it further towards international isolation.