Israel Summons U.S. Ambassador After U.N. Vote On Israeli Settlements
JERUSALEM (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Israel pressed forward with promises of retaliation and damage control Sunday following a U.N. vote last week on an anti-settlement resolution that passed thanks to an abstention by the U.S., Israel's close ally.
Israel's Foreign Ministry said it began summoning the ambassadors of countries who voted in favor of the resolution, including those from the permanent members of the Security Council -- Russia, China, the U.K. and France.
In a highly unusual move, the U.S. Ambassador was later summoned as well, Israeli media reported.
Speaking to a weekly meeting of his Cabinet on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was also considering a "plan of action" against the U.N., without elaborating.
"We will do all it takes so Israel emerges unscathed from this shameful decision," Netanyahu said.
The resolution, which condemned Israeli settlement activities in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, sparked outrage in Israel and led to a new low in relations between Netanyahu and U.S. President Barack Obama. Israel has accused Obama of colluding with the Palestinians against the Jewish state.
"We feel betrayed, extremely frustrated. We are angry. This is not how you treat friends," said Cabinet minister Yuval Steinitz.
There was pressure from the president-elect and lobbying from Israel, but in the end, the United States broke a longstanding tradition and refused to veto a resolution demanding Israel to stop settlement activity on Palestinian land seized in the 1967 war, CBS2's Tony Aiello reported in an earlier story.
When the vote came in, U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power raised her hand to abstain, marking an extraordinary break by the Obama administration.
The president long has criticized Israeli settling building as an obstacle to peace, but has never failed to veto a U.N. resolution condemning Israel until now.
The resolution's immediate impact appears to be largely symbolic, but Israel fears it could open the door to an increase in international steps, including economic measures. Much of the international community considers the settlements illegal or illegitimate and an obstacle to peace.
In addition to the pledges made Sunday, Netanyahu canceled his upcoming meeting with British Prime Minister Theresa May. Additionally, Israel recalled its ambassadors to New Zealand and Senegal for consultations and canceled a planned January visit to Israel by Senegal's foreign minister. A visit by Ukraine's prime minister has also been canceled in light of its support for the U.N. vote and Israel has pledged to cut millions of shekels in funding to certain U.N. agencies.
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