Nikki Haley in Israel — Support for the Jewish State

by Sarah Ann Haves

Nikki Haley, American ambassador to the United Nations, met with Israeli government leaders on Wednesday, June 7, 2017 in Jerusalem, to discuss bilateral relations. In recent months, there has been a marked shift in tone towards Israel, signaling a change in Middle East foreign policy under U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration.

Speaking to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Haley said there was a turning of the tide in New York at the United Nations. “I think they know they can’t keep responding in the way they’ve been responding. They sense that the tone has changed.”

Haley spoke in Geneva on the eve of June 6th, before embarking on her trip to Israel. She said that the UN agenda was discussed with ambassadors there. “It will be a new day at the Human Rights Council when it comes to Israel,” she declared.

Most of the ambassadors on the Human Rights Council heard from Haley about Agenda Item Seven which is fraught with condemnation of Israel when it is brought before the nations. Under this item, the council is mandated to talk about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at every session. There is no similar mandate demanded of other nations, especially those who are currently committing human atrocities in Iran, Syria and North Korea.

Haley has demanded reform, speaking to UN leaders about the need to stop unfairly accusing Israel of human rights violations. “Some of them, they were embarrassed by it. You know, they acknowledge the fact that it just makes no sense. You can’t sit there, and of all countries, Israel?”

Haley has proven, over and over again, her pro-Israel support, taking the UNHRC and other UN groups to task for their anti-Israel bias. The US has threatened to remove its financial and diplomatic support for these organizations. Haley has demanded that there be no separate agenda item on Israel than for any other country being addressed at the UN.

At the Israeli President’s residence, Haley thanked President Reuven Rivlin for his support, but said, “I feel somewhat guilty because all I did at the United Nations was tell the truth. I have never taken kindly to bullies, and the UN has bullied Israel for a very long time; and, we are not going to let that happen anymore. It is a new day for Israel in the United Nations.”

Professor Gabriela Shalev, former Israeli Ambassador to the UN, spoke briefly to journalists on a Jerusalem conference call about Haley’s visit. She mentioned that Haley was a great friend of Israel, who has identified with Israelis and Jews living in the Middle East. “I can only attest to my short experience, representing Israel for 2 years, 2008-2010, as Israeli ambassador to the UN. Being the U.S. ambassador to the UN is not an easy task….We, the Israeli mission to the UN, always work in cooperation and friendship with all the American ambassadors.”

Shalev, who was at the United Nations during a challenging time for Israel, said that on many important issues, Israel and the U.S. stand together. For example, on the issue of terrorist operations conducted by Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran. She also addressed the problems with the UN leadership. “The UN is today, I can say, the global center of efforts to delegitimize Israel and Israel’s right to defend itself. And, therefore, the support of the United States, which was always there since the days of Harry Truman, and the establishment of the state of Israel, is a given.”

But, Shalev also mentioned that she is a very concerned citizen of the world and Israel, especially when it comes to how Israel is judged unfairly. “Everybody, that represents Israel and the U.S., in this noble arena, is very aware of the double standards against Israel.”

Disappointing to many Israelis was the lack of a US veto, under the Obama Administration, in the UN Security Council decision regarding Resolution 2334. It will take some time for the Trump Administration to reverse that decision, which unfairly judged Israel regarding its sovereignty over settlements in the West Bank (Judea and Samaria), and over its capital city, Jerusalem.

Some Israelis have been critical of Trump’s recent decision to initiate a six month presidential waiver, resulting in no current effort to support the 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Act, which compels the U.S. State Department to move its embassy to Jerusalem. However, even though unsatisfied by Trump’s decision, a majority of Israelis continue to show increased support for his policies concerning the Jewish State.

Shalev addressed a question from this writer about the fact that the American embassy will not be moved at this time. “The person who really dictates the policy is the president. I am sure that Nikki Haley is going to address it because people here are very concerned about the politics of Trump.”

Shalev mentioned the promise Trump made during the U.S. elections last year to move the embassy. She explained that many promises during campaigns are not fulfilled when the U.S. president comes into the White House and sees the reality. According to Shalev, Israelis saw Trump’s promise as symbolic. She mentioned other areas where America has backed Israel and will continue to uphold Israel’s requests: “We can be assured of the support of the United States. We will get the support regarding Israeli building inside the settlements, and also the embassy will, in some time, move. I think they are concerned by repercussions, and only cautious in attitude.”

Only time will tell how true to Israel the United States will be, in terms of long-term policy changes both at the UN and in dialogue with Israeli government leaders, especially concerning crucial issues connected to Israel’s capital, and the disputed territories.

Regardless, Nicki Haley seems to stand out more than any other in the U.S. government, as a true friend of Israel, who isn’t afraid to speak out against old habits of Israel-bashing at the UN. That kind of friendship commitment goes a long way in gaining favor with the people of Israel.

“Indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” Genesis 22:17-18

(c) 2017 Messianic Vision all rights reserved. This article is not reproducible except with permisson from Messianic Vision.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright ©1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Ms. Haves is a news analyst, reporting on political, diplomatic, military and spiritual issues in Israel and the nations.