Former United Nations Ambassador John Bolton, once on the shortlist to be the next secretary of State, said President Obama is uncomfortable with the U.S. leading the world on issues like Israeli settlement building.
From The Hill
“I think this is a deep reflection of Obama’s ideology,” he said Tuesday of America’s recent abstention from a U.N. Security Council vote on a resolution condemning Israel’s settlement policy. “He sees Israel in much the same way he sees the United States.”
“[Obama] dislikes American exceptionalism, he dislikes Israeli exceptionalism,” Bolton added on Fox News’ “The O’Reilly Factor.” “They’re just one more country, just like the United States is just one more country.”
“That’s what this vote was about in my view. I think he sees this as his way to set it straight. He’s going to try to affect that in his remaining days in office,” he said.
The U.N. Security Council last Friday passed a resolution demanding an end to Israeli settlement building in occupied territories disputed with the Palestinians.The U.S. had the power to veto the measure but abstained, despite pressure from President-elect Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Samantha Power, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., condemned Netanyahu last Friday for allowing settlement expansion while seeking a two-state solution with the Palestinians.
“One cannot simultaneously champion expanding Israeli settlements and champion a viable a two-state solution that would end the conflict,” she said in a statement to the U.N. Security Council. “One has to make a choice between settlements and separation.”
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