The Senate’s number-two Democrat is facing a flood of phone calls urging him to drop his objection to a bipartisan measure condemning an anti-Israel United Nations resolution, according to a leading pro-Israel group that spoke to THE WEEKLY STANDARD.
The December U.N. Security Council resolution triggered bipartisan backlash in both chambers of Congress, with lawmakers—including Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer—denouncing it as one-sided and anti-Israel. The Obama administration effectively allowed the resolution to pass.
Despite gathering over 70 cosponsors, the Senate measure censuring that resolution is now subject to an objection from Democratic Whip Dick Durbin, who opposed a unanimous consent request that would get the measure to the Senate floor more quickly. Jewish Insider reported Wednesday that Durbin was holding up the resolution, citing comment from Democratic New Mexico senator Tom Udall. Durbin is resisting the measure because it does not condemn Israeli settlements, sources on and off Capitol Hill told TWS.
The objection has drawn the ire of pro-Israel groups.
Durbin’s offices in Washington and Illinois were slammed with over one thousand phone calls from supporters of the Republican Jewish Coalition this week, one of several groups lobbying for the resolution.
“In the face of an overwhelming desire to stand with Israel against the disgraceful actions of the United Nations and the Obama Administration, Senator Durbin has chosen to play politics with the security of our closest ally, Israel,” RJC spokesman Fred Brown told TWS. “The American people made it clear last November that they are tired of these partisan games, and despite the senator’s best efforts, they will not be ignored.”
Durbin’s office did not respond to requests for comment.
The Senate measure in question, introduced by Florida senator Marco Rubio and Maryland senator Ben Cardin, censures a December UNSC resolution that describes the West Bank and east Jerusalem as occupied Palestinian territory and says construction in those areas is illegal.
The censure calls to repeal or fundamentally change the U.N. resolution, opposes any external efforts to impose a solution on the conflict, and reaffirms a two-state solution. A similar measure passed the House in January.
Udall has also raised objections to the measure’s treatment of Israeli construction. He proposed an amendment during a Foreign Relations Committee meeting mid-month that condemned settlements, but it was rejected by Republicans and three Democrats on the panel. It was supported by seven Democrats, including Virginia senator Tim Kaine and New Jersey senator Cory Booker. Durbin is not a member of the Foreign Relations Committee.
