Cotton: US decision to abstain from UN cease-fire vote ‘deeply offensive’

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) on Tuesday condemned the U.S. decision to abstain from voting on a UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

“The Biden administration’s decision to abstain from the UN ceasefire vote is deeply offensive and strategically foolish,” Cotton said. Said in a post on Platform X, formerly known as Twitter. “This is just another example of Joe Biden’s failed leadership.”

Cotton’s post also included a clip of himself on “The Hugh Hewitt Show” on Tuesday, in which he said his withdrawal was “no surprise to anyone.”

“So it was outrageous, it was very aggressive, it was strategically stupid, but again, it was not surprising that it came from the following reasons.” [President Biden]” Cotton said in the clip.

The Security Council passed a legally binding cease-fire resolution on Monday with 14 votes in favor and zero votes against, with the United States abstaining. They are calling for an immediate ceasefire during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and the immediate release of the hostages.

Following the US abstention, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled a delegation’s visit to Washington. The Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement that the abstention was “a clear departure from the United States’ consistent position on the Security Council since the beginning of the war.”

“The United States today abandoned its policy at the United Nations,” the statement released Monday said. “Given the change in the US position, Prime Minister Netanyahu has decided that the delegation will remain in Israel.”

White House national security spokesman John Kirby said at a news conference that he was “disappointed” by the cancellation.

“We are extremely disappointed that they will not be coming to Washington, D.C., to have a meaningful conversation with them about viable alternatives to Rafa ground combat,” Kirby said. .