Israel pauses further sanctions on New Zealand ‘until further notice’

Israel warned NZ of serious consequences if it backed a United Nations resolution over settlements, says an Israel newspaper, but an Israeli official in Wellington says while relations are now cool, it was still “business as usual“.

Israel is lashing out at the nations that voted to condemn Israeli settlements in the West Bank, suspending working ties with at least 10 countries that voted yes on the resolution, NBC News reported Monday.

Kerry will give the speech at approximately 11 a.m. EST at the Department of State’s Dean Acheson Auditorium.

“This step is a pathetic step”. In fact, most would agree that Kerry has shown a profound lack of understanding of the region, its workings and possibly most importantly from a United States perspective, which countries are truly U.S. allies and which are hostile towards America.

Since the latest resolution passed Friday, the Israeli government has accused the Obama administration of orchestrating the measure with other countries in a betrayal of the U.S. -Israel relationship.

According to him, as the draft resolution was circulated, US said to those on the Security Council what further changes were needed to make the text more balanced.

“We have consistently defended the right of Israel to defend itself by itself”, he said, condemning Palestinian support for militant groups that threatened Israel.

Kerry mediated a nine-month round of peace talks that broke down in early 2014 with little progress.

The Obama administration has denied the allegations of collusion, labeling some of the purported evidence “pure fiction”.

“I think a year ago, [a boycott] was a real concern”, he said.

Kerry is delivering a speech Wednesday that outlines his proposals for a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians.

Still, ahead of Kerry’s speech, Netanyahu – in a move aimed at reducing tensions with Washington – prevailed on Jerusalem’s municipal government to cancel a scheduled vote the approve the building of 492 new housing units of annexed territory.

The chairman of the committee and one of its members said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had asked for the vote to be delayed, concerned approval for those projects would add ammunition to Kerry’s expected anti-settlement arguments.

Instead of turning against Israel, Hoyer urged Kerry – and by extension the rest of the Obama Administration – now to stand with Israel.

Israel later annexed East Jerusalem in a move never recognised by the worldwide community.

The White House and State Department have both denied the U.S. was involved in helping the Palestinians orchestrate the resolution.

According to The Times of Israel, “Kerry is quoted as saying that he could present his ideas for a final status solution if the Palestinians pledge they will support the proposed framework”.