Benjamin Netanyahu has made no secret of his displeasure about last week’s United Nations Security Council vote on Israeli settlements. On Christmas day, the Israeli prime minister summoned envoys of countries that supported the resolution reiterating the illegality of settlement building in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. He then ordered “punitive” actions against countries that sponsored the resolution, such as New Zealand and Senegal. Mr Netanyahu even instructed Israel’s foreign ministry to cancel all aid to Senegal.
The bulk of Mr Netanyahu’s rage, however, was reserved for outgoing American president Barack Obama. Rather than acknowledge decades of American policy on Israel’s illegal occupation, Mr Netanyahu’s spokespeople have taken to American television news programmes claiming that Mr Obama pushed the Security Council resolution before the end of his presidency. Analysts believe that that secretary of state John Kerry could outline a new set of parameters for a Palestinian state in a speech planned for this week and Tel Aviv is not pleased with the prospect.
Mr Netanyahu’s over-the-top reaction to the UN vote demonstrates the fear permeating Tel Aviv that more international action against settlements is on the way. His panicked tantrum gives the lie to Israel’s narrative of strength.
Moreover, the prime minister’s attacks on Mr Obama reveal just how dysfunctional the relationship between the two men is. Bear in mind that Mr Obama recently authorised the largest ever military aid package to a foreign country in US history. The 10-year $38 billion (Dh140bn) package was pushed through by the Obama administration despite unprecedented intransigence on Israel’s part concerning the peace process.
Therefore, it is difficult to take Mr Netanyahu’s attacks all that seriously. As the prime minister made clear, he is happy to cut off aid to Senegal and recall his ambassador from New Zealand but he will not take any serious action against the United States.
Aside from the verbose rhetoric, Tel Aviv has no intention of rejecting American aid or renegotiating the special relationship. Instead, Mr Netanyahu believes that chest beating and baseless attacks on the outgoing president will win him favour with the next American administration. What the UN vote revealed, though, is that the international community can see through this facile diplomatic game and time is running out for Israel’s occupation.
