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Israel withholds Palestinian funds after U.N. vote

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    Ambassador John Bolton weighs in

  • Duration 4:40
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And Israel is taking steps today in response to a successful Palestinian bid for non member observer status at the United Nations.

Israel now with holding 100 million dollars in tax revenue from the Palestinians.

This after Israel announced new settlements in the west bank and East Jerusalem.

Apparently in response to the UN general assembly when by the Palestinians last Thursday.

Joining us how she does every Sunday about this time former United States ambassador to the UN John Bolton possibly Fox News contributor good morning ambassador.

Good morning Eric let it do it as always of course of the UN vote.

Did it really instead make peace more difficult and and compromise more complicated.

In that region.

Well absolutely looked at this vote was fundamentally illegitimate there is no Palestinian state there's nothing that meets the customary international law definitions.

The Palestinian Authority violated the Oslo accords by trying to change the status of the west bank and Gaza -- -- means other than negotiation.

And I have to say it was a vote that could have been won by the United States and Israel that that.

Leave that for another day I think Israel's responding appropriately I think that the initial Israeli reaction to sort of sure shot the whole thing off was a mistake this is a serious problem and I think there well within their legitimate rights to take the steps they take.

You just -- and it's fascinating that you think that the vote could have been one I mean it was overwhelming.

1384.

What nine against 41 -- abstentions.

How do you think ambassador.

Israel and the US and Israelis.

Israel's allies could potentially of -- Well I think the same way that the George HW Bush Administration defeated very similar efforts by what was then the Palestine Liberation Organization in 19891990.

To enhance its status in the UN at that time secretary of state Jim Baker said flatly and unequivocally that if any UN organization enhanced.

The PLO's status from that an observer organization.

That that -- he would recommend to the president that the United States cut off all funding assessed or voluntary today UN agency and you know that.

Worked in the World Health Organization -- worked in -- -- go to work in the general assembly the issue was dead.

For twenty years until the Obama administration showed weakness on that point.

Last year and UNESCO in that voting in -- been admitted that he had the Palestinian Authority as a member state.

Foreshadowed what happened last week it was entirely avoidable was a loss.

Brought on by United States weakness in a group of bipartisan senators are saying just that that they are threatening to cut off the Palestinian funding.

About 500 million dollars worth because of this.

But from your view Susan Rice and the Obama administration.

Did what.

Well I think they gave up the most potent weapon that the United States has and that's the financial weapon in any almost any case that matters to us in the general assembly.

We're gonna be -- -- analysts were prepared to use the financial weapon that runs contrary to every multilateral.

-- instinctive the Obama White House.

And they paid a price forward and Israel paid a price sport.

-- -- so finally seemingly one sided I remember when you have voted against the Human Rights Council would grand Apollo here here's what -- nine votes against it to us.

Canada Czech Republic Israel Marshall Islands.

Micronesia.

Palau.

And there were narrow narrow -- I mean they're they seem to be our steadfast us allies to deal went allowing it -- -- -- well this is -- this demonstrates the permanent anti Israel anti American majority view that it can be broken only through taken -- taken very strong measures by the United States.

And -- the irony is that for those who are strong supporters of the United Nations this kind of resolution.

Dramatically undercuts the UN's credibility weakens the UN very profound -- and -- I think we'll see.

Further ramifications.

Of that in congress as well members who will now seek to cut off for -- US contributions to the to the UN in response and -- if that happens what's that what's the impact.

Well I think it might demonstrate to some people that they've got to take their votes at the UN more seriously you know we we are in a deficit situation is that people have been discussing these.

Past several weeks I think there are a lot of potential targets in congress.

Her house and senate members -- -- -- reduce our federal expenditures and there's billions of dollars American taxpayer money that does go to the line.

Ambassador -- -- has always thank you so much credence.

Thank you --

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