In its strongest expression and sign of displeasure and anger with the countries that supported the U.N. resolution condemning Israeli settlements, Israel has made the drastic move of suspending all " working ties" with these nations. It is a move that is not exactly surprising given how Israel has been seething with rage following the passing of the said U.N. resolution on Friday- but this protest action- or retaliatory move- by Israel is something the concerned countries may just shrug off or even welcome to give them more reason to ignore Israel or condemn it further.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly ordered Israel's Foreign Ministry to stop receiving foreign ministers and ambassadors from Britain, France, Russia, China, Japan, Ukraine, Angola, Egypt, Uruguay, Spain, Senegal and New Zealand. This means that activities with the embassies of these countries will be suspended by Israel. The diplomatic officials of these countries will also no longer be permitted to meet with Netanyahu. Travel by Israel ministers to the aforementioned countries will be kept to a minimum.
The suspension of " working ties" will not hold for Israeli ambassadors in those 12 countries that voted against Israel as they will still be allowed to continue working with the governments of their host countries.
Venezuela and Malaysia who also voted for the U.N. resolution have no diplomatic relations with Israel so these countries are not affected by Israel's counter diplomatic move in protest- or retaliation- for the vote.
Earlier, Netanyahu summoned the ambassadors of 10 of the 12 countries to a meeting with him only to reprimand them for voting to condemn Israeli settlements in the U.N. Security Council. U.S. Ambassador Dan Shapiro was also called by Netanyahu to a meeting to seek "clarifications" why the U.S. did not use its veto power against the U.N. resolution, as expected by Israel of its long-time ally.
President-elect Donald Trump also called for a veto, but Washington kept everyone guessing on which way it will go until the big decision day when it opted to abstain paving the way for the resolution to pass. Israel quickly and fervently called the move by the U.S. as " shameful", while some political observers described the abstain vote as a " betrayal", " a stab in the back" , and a "double cross" by the U.S. against its closest ally in the Middle East. Speaker Paul Ryan said that the U.S. decision to abstain was a blow to peace and sets a dangerous precedent for further diplomatic efforts to isolate and " demonize" Israel.
The Israeli government is convinced that the Obama administration is behind the resolution and influenced the way the countries voted by " initiating the resolution, standing behind it, coordinated on the wording and demanding that it be passed". The White House has denied this claim, but the Israeli government stood firm and said they have evidence to prove such statement.
Trump has widely criticized the vote and the decision of the U.S. to abstain, and the President -elect also slammed U.N. for the move against Israel. Trump has vowed to undo the U.N. move as he said " things will be different after January 20", the day he is inaugurated into office as the 45th President of the U.S. Outgoing President Obama has had a chilly relationship with Israel over his 8-year term with some even calling him a "Jew- hater" while Trump has taken a pro-Israel tone during his campaign for the presidency.
