Senate

GOP lawmakers move to condemn UN over Israel

by Jordain Carney - 12/30/16 7:28 PM ET

Lawmakers in both chambers are planning to introduce resolutions formally disapproving a recent United Nations Security Council vote condemning Israeli settlements.

Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) said Friday he will introduce a measure on Tuesday expressing support for Israel and throwing the “sense of the Senate” behind disapproving the United Nations resolution.

“Over the last eight years, the Obama administration has made a series of blatantly misguided choices when it comes to working with our strongest ally in the Middle East,” Moran said in a statement.

He added the Trump administration will “have to work overtime to repair the damage President Obama has done.”

{mosads}The Obama administration drew swift bipartisan backlash after it abstained from a Security Council resolution denouncing settlement construction by Israel in the West Bank and Jerusalem. The United States could have used its status as a permanent member of the Security Council to block the resolution — which ultimately passed — by vetoing it.

Separately, Rep. Dennis Ross (R-Fla.) said Friday he is offering a resolution condemning President Obama and the United Nations “for their dangerous anti-Israel actions.”

It’s unclear when the House or Senate resolutions could get a vote. Lawmakers will return to Washington on Tuesday to kick off the 115th Congress.

Secretary of State John Kerry defended the U.N. vote, arguing that while the Obama administration is committed to supporting Israel, “friends need to tell each other the hard truths.”

But Kerry’s speech appeared to further inflame criticism from lawmakers that the U.N. vote made it harder to reach a two-state solution.

“Secretary Kerry further provoked Israelis and all who stand as allies to Israel with his remarks this week,” Moran added.

GOP lawmakers are threatening to introduce legislation next year to cut off U.S. support for the United Nations, though the measure would likely face an uphill battle to get the 60 votes needed to clear the Senate.

Moran said on Friday that he is “committed to working with both Republicans and Democrats to make sure we stand with Israel and that the United Nations cannot be used as a forum to create policies that hurt our nation and its allies.”

Tags Jerry Moran John Kerry