Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich was one of the few Trump allies to note the 800-pound gorilla in the room with respect to the UN vote about Israeli settlements: the vote Putin and Russia cast in favor of the resolution. The vote tossed the Christmas season into a conflagration of controversy as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Obama of reversing U.S. support of our Middle East ally and betraying them as a "last jab" for his ailing presidency.
Newt sounded off on twitter:
So Russia having illegally occupied Crimea and eastern Ukraine votes to condemn Israel for "occupied lands".we are supposed to be impressed— newtgingrich (@newtgingrich) 1482583355.0
President-elect Trump and other Republicans came out strongly against the refusal of Obama to veto the U.N. resolution condemning Israel's settlements, but few were brave enough to note that Trump's mutual admirer Vladimir Putin voted for the proposition. Newt cited the invasion and annexation of land from Ukraine by Putin in 2014 which was roundly criticized by both Republicans and Democrats as an act of Russian expansionist aggression.
Newt heaped more condemnation on Obama however:
President Obama abandoned Israel today at the UN.this vote— newtgingrich (@newtgingrich) 1482524882.0
No one should be confused. Terrorists were rewarded, a democracy was knifed in the back by the Obama decision to not veto security council— newtgingrich (@newtgingrich) 1482525038.0
One of four nations pushing today's anti-Israel resolution venezuela. A collapsing dictatorship whose people are starving, medicine failing— newtgingrich (@newtgingrich) 1482525119.0
The Trump Administration should rethink our approach to UN-take strong steps to support Israel in response to Obama's betrayal of our ally— newtgingrich (@newtgingrich) 1482583456.0
Newt's vitriol against Obama mirrors the anger being expressed by many at what is perceived by Israel to be an enormous betrayal. While the White House continues to deny this was an intentional snub, a spokesman for Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu shocked a CNN host with the accusation that Obama intentionally collaborated with the Palestinians on the proposal. Ted Cruz blasted Obama and vowed to support an congressional effort by Senator Lindsey Graham to block all of U.S. funding from the United Nations.