Senate Foreign Relations C’ttee to Discuss Resolution On UNSC 2334 Today

WASHINGTON – After the House quickly passed on January 6 a measure condemning the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for resolution 2234 critical of Israel, a similar bill will be introduced Wednesday in the Senate Foreign Relations committee, a GOP aide told Jewish Insider.

Senate Resolution 6, co-sponsored by Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Ben Cardin (D-MD), “Objects to UNSC Resolution 2234 and to all efforts that undermine direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians for a secure and peaceful settlement.”

The resolution also calls on the Obama Administration to take no additional action at the Paris Conference scheduled for January 15. Secretary of State John Kerry will be attending the Middle East peace gathering in the French capital.

The Weekly Standard reported on January 7 that Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee Bob Corker (R-TN) was delaying the resolution’s passage by inserting language that would apply pressure on the UN and risk losing Democratic support. Hoping to support a bill with tangible impact, Corker said, “We are hoping to introduce and pass legislation that will impact the U.N. in a negative way if it continues to pursue anti-Semitic measures.”

However, a Republican staffer told Jewish Insider that “The Foreign Relations Committee is otherwise occupied and that for Corker, it’s all Tillerson, all of the time, and they are not really concentrating on this (S. Res. 6).” Given that the hearing for President elect-Donald Trump’s Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson is today, the GOP aide said that he is not aware of any “sinister” motives by Senator Corker.

“It is critical that this resolution pass, pass by a wide margin and before January 15,” David Brog, Founding Executive Director of the Christians United for Israel explained to Jewish Insider. “Any effort to add additional measures to this resolution—however worthwhile they might be in the abstract— should be avoided if it will result in either a delay in the vote or a decreased majority voting in favor,” he added.

Mort Klein, President of the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) objected to the inclusion of the two-state solution in S. Res. 6. “The “two-state” language should be deleted prior to a vote,” he demanded.

“As the committee takes up a resolution condemning this U.N. action, we are also hoping to introduce and pass legislation very soon that will impact the U.N. in a negative way if it continues to pursue anti-Semitic measures,” Corker noted to Jewish Insider.