Israel claims credit for ‘weakening’ Paris declaration

Israeli officials credit the efforts of the National Security Council, the Foreign Ministry, and the Prime Minster’s Office for a “significant weakening” of the text of the final joint declaration issued by the participants of the Paris peace conference.

The officials celebrate that the “problematic passages” in UN Security Council Resolution 2334 were not included in the Paris document. Resolution 2334, passed on December 23, harshly condemned the settlement enterprise, declaring that it “no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law and a major obstacle to the achievement of the two-State solution and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace.”

Furthermore, the Israeli officials expressed satisfaction over the fact that no further action against Israeli settlements is planned at the Security Council. US Secretary of State John Kerry had promised this to Prime Minister Netanyahu during a phone call from Paris earlier Sunday

These ostensible successes, the officials conclude, are the “result of harsh reactions” voiced by Israel against Resolution 2334.

— Raphael Ahren