Israel to Reassess UN Ties after Settlement Resolution: Netanyahu
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Israel will reassess its ties with the United Nations following the adoption by the Security Council of a resolution demanding an end to Israeli settlement building, the regime's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said late on Saturday.
The vote was able to pass the 15-member council on Friday because the United States broke with a long-standing approach of diplomatically shielding Israel and did not wield its veto power as it had on many times before - a decision that Netanyahu called "shameful".
"I instructed the Foreign Ministry to complete within a month a re-evaluation of all our contacts with the United Nations, including the Israeli funding of UN institutions and the presence of UN representatives in Israel," Netanyahu said in broadcast remarks, Reuters reported.
"I have already instructed to stop about 30 million shekels ($7.8 million) in funding to five UN institutions, five bodies, that are especially hostile to Israel ... and there is more to come," he said.
The Israeli regime’s prime minister did not name the institutions or offer any further details.
Defying heavy pressure from long-time ally Israel and US President-elect Donald Trump for Washington to use its veto, the United States abstained in the Security Council decision, which passed with 14 votes in favor.
Israel for decades has pursued a policy of constructing Jewish settlements on territory captured by Israel in a 1967 war with its Arab neighbors including the West Bank, Gaza and East Al-Quds (East Jerusalem).
Most countries view Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank and East Al-Quds as illegal and an obstacle to peace.
