PM Netanyahu's Remarks at the Start of the Weekly Cabinet Meeting
(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, this morning (Sunday, 25 December 2016),
at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting, made the following remarks:

[Translated from Hebrew]


"I share ministers' feelings, anger and frustration vis-à-vis the unbalanced
resolution that is very hostile to the State of Israel, and which the [UN]
Security Council passed in an unworthy manner. From the information that we
have, we have no doubt that the Obama administration initiated it, stood
behind it, coordinated on the wording and demanded that it be passed. This
is, of course, in complete contradiction of the traditional American policy
that was committed to not trying to dictate terms for a permanent agreement,
like any issue related to them in the Security Council, and, of course, the
explicit commitment of President Obama himself, in 2011, to refrain from
such steps.

We will do whatever is necessary so that Israel will not be damaged by this
shameful resolution and I also tell the ministers here, we must act
prudently, responsibly and calmly, in both actions and words. I ask
ministers to act responsibly as per the directives that will be given today
at the Security Cabinet meeting immediately following this meeting. I have
also asked the Foreign Ministry to prepare an action plan regarding the UN
and other international elements, which will be submitted to the Security
Cabinet within one month. Until then, of course, we will consider our
steps."

[English]

"Over decades, American administrations and Israeli governments had
disagreed about settlements, but we agreed that the Security Council was not
the place to resolve this issue. We knew that going there would make
negotiations harder and drive peace further away.

And, as I told John Kerry on Thursday, friends don’t take friends to the
Security Council. I'm encouraged by the statements of our friends in the
United States, Republicans and Democrats alike. They understand how reckless
and destructive this UN resolution was, they understand that the Western
Wall isn't occupied territory.

I look forward to working with those friends and with the new administration
when it takes office next month. And I take this opportunity to wish
Israel's Christian citizens and our Christian friends around the world a
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year."