Britain’s Theresa May on Israel: When a leader speaks from both sides of her mouth

The British Prime Minister, Therese May is trying too hard to become the next Iron lady of conservative party in the reminiscent and mode of the late Margaret Thatcher. But is she the real deal? Is she willing to do what it takes to deserve the title of the iron lady? When Thatcher took over the helms of affairs, she instituted numerous reforms that brought Britain towards the path to true capitalistic society. She was also loyal to her allies especially Israel and America, standing by them without waffling.

Can we say of same about Theresa May when it comes to Israel?

Prime Minister May is trying to proof that she is a strong supporter of Israel just like the erstwhile Iron Lady Thatcher, but not so many people are buying it. She criticized the speech made by the outgoing US secretary of State John Kerry on the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian prolonged conflict.

Yet her country Britain voted on United Nation Security Council resolution 2334. This unacceptable resolution by the supporters of Israel passed by a 14-0 vote and Obama’s America abstained from voting on the resolution.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s criticized Obama, the outgoing American president on the outcome. “After the U.S. abstained on a vote by the U.N. Security Council on December 23, which declared illegal all Israeli settlements constructed since 1967 on occupied Palestinian land, Netanyahu accused the Obama administration of working behind Israel’s back to pass the resolution.” (Newsweek)

The resolution by the “United Nations security council has adopted a landmark resolution demanding a halt to all Israeli settlement in the occupied territories after Barack Obama’s administration refused to veto the resolution.”

· “Why would the British prime minister criticise Kerry when her own government played a leading role in the passing of UN Security Council resolution 2334 which condemned Israel over its settlement expansion? Kerry ordered the United States to abstain while May’s government voted in favour,” as rightly pointed out by Azriel Bermant,of The UK Guardian.

Theresa May should take a stand without trying to play to both sides. After all, Israel is the only true democracy in the Middle East and Israel does not need a lukewarm ally especially at this juncture of her history, when the threat for survival of the Jewish State cannot be overemphasized.