The leadership of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America – the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization – issued the following statement this afternoon in the wake of the passage of a resolution by the United Nations Security Council condemning Israeli settlement activity.

“Today, the United Nations maintained its longstanding tradition of anti-Israel animus. The Security Council passed a resolution that cannot be properly characterized as anything other than biased against Israel. But what was an unprecedented and deeply disturbing break from the past was today’s decision by the Obama Administration not to veto this resolution, but to merely abstain and to permit the resolution to pass 14-0. The Orthodox Union is gravely disappointed with this decision by President Obama. Over the course of his presidency, Mr. Obama repeatedly reassured American Jews, and others who care for the security and welfare of Israel, that his commitment to American support for Israel’s security was “unshakable.” By allowing this resolution to pass in the waning weeks of his Administration, President Obama has undermined his legacy in that regard.

The Orthodox Union appreciates the statements by Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress calling upon the Administration to veto this latest calumny, and their commitment to respond forcefully to such United Nations action. The OU Advocacy Center will work to support these efforts.​”​