Senators tell Obama to be wary of U.N. Israel resolutions
A bipartisan slate of 88 senators has urged President Barack Obama to veto any “one-sided” United Nations Security Council resolutions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“We urge you to continue longstanding U.S. policy and make it clear that you will veto any one-sided UNSC resolution that may be offered in the coming months,” said the Sept. 19 letter spearheaded by Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand and Republican Mike Rounds, junior senators from New York and South Dakota, respectively.
Israeli officials in recent months have expressed concern that Obama would use his final months in office to advance his vision of a final-status arrangement. One avenue for such a bid would be the Security Council. The letter, which was backed by AIPAC, was sent a day before Obama addressed the U.N. General Assembly.
The Obama administration has vetoed or otherwise prevented throughout its two terms all Security Council resolutions on the Israeli-Arab conflict not favored by Israel, a record unmatched by its predecessors. — jta
Trump to get ‘only’ $5 million from Sheldon Adelson
Sheldon Adelson reportedly will contribute $5 million toward electing Donald Trump, a fraction of the pledged $100 million reported earlier this year.
CNN on Sept. 19 quoted a source close to the billionaire casino magnate as saying that he and his wife had earmarked $45 million for this election cycle for GOP candidates: $20 million each for Senate and House of Representatives races, and $5 million for Trump’s candidacy.
In May, Adelson endorsed Trump and appealed to other top Republican Jewish donors to follow suit.
The New York Times reported at the time that Adelson was prepared to spend up to $100 million to elect Trump. It’s not known if Adelson plans to give more ahead of the Nov. 8 election.
Adelson appears to have been uneasy at times with Trump, in part for the reasons many of his fellow Jewish Republicans have been unhappy with the nominee. — jta