US Vice-President Joe Biden’s office denies claims that he intervened ahead of the passing of an anti-Israel UN resolution, convincing Ukraine to support it.
Joe Biden, America’s second-in-command, personally interfered in order to persuade Ukraine to vote for the anti-Israel resolution passed Friday at the UN Security Council, reports indicate.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled a visit to Jerusalem by Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman, scheduled for this week, after his country, a supposed ally, voted in favor of a UN Security Council resolution that delegitimizes Jewish communities in eastern Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria. The passing of the resolution, Israel maintains, weakens the Jewish state, strengthens terrorists and destroys any chances for a resumption of peace negotiations with the Palestinian Authority.
Ynet reported on Monday that according to Israeli officials, “Groysman, a Jew who is thought of as one of Israel’s main supporters, wanted that his country not be involved in the consultations held on the resolution. However, Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko decided to vote in favor of its passage following a telephone conversation with US Vice President Joe Biden.”
Also on Monday, Israeli Environmental Protection Minister Ze’ev Elkin told The Jerusalem Post that Biden intervened ahead of Friday’s vote at the UN, persuading Ukraine to support it.
“Elkin said openly that Biden spoke to the Ukrainians, and that they would have abstained had he not intervened,” the Post reported. “A source said Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko’s office confirmed that Biden called, but would not confirm nor deny that the conversation had to do with Israel.”
Biden’s office vehemently denies the accusation, saying the call focused on issues specific to the Ukraine and had nothing to do with the UN resolution.
Revoking the invitation to Groysman was only one in a series of retaliatory measures taken by the Netanyahu government in response to the UN vote, conveying that Jerusalem does not take these diplomatic attacks lightly, particularly when supported by countries that are recognized as friends, including Ukraine.
By: World Israel News Staff