House overwhelmingly votes to condemn UN resolution against Israel settlements
The House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted Thursday to rebuke the United Nations for passing a resolution criticizing Israeli settlements.
Lawmakers voted 342-80 in favor of the bipartisan non-binding resolution, which declares unwavering support for Israel and insists that the United States reject any future U.N. actions that are similarly “one-sided and anti-Israel.”
A visibly angry House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis. opened debate on the resolution by saying that the Obama administration “abandoned our ally Israel when she needed us the most.”
“Do not be fooled,” Ryan said. “This U.N. Security Council resolution … was about one thing and one thing only. Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish, democratic state.
“These types of one-sided efforts are designed to isolate and delegitimize Israel. They do not advance peace, they make it more elusive.”
The House measure divided Democrats, 109 of whom joined 233 Republicans in approving the measure. However, nearly 80 more opposed the measure because they said it contained inaccuracies and distorted the complexities of the Middle East peace process. They also accused Republicans of attacking Obama unfairly in the waning days of his presidency.
