Israel’s foreign ministry on Tuesday announced the suspension of all cooperation with Angola following the latter’s vote in favor of a United Nations resolution condemning Jewish settlements in the West Bank, which are deemed illegal under international law.

The ministry of foreign affairs said in a statement that Israel was disappointed by Angola’s vote.

“Israel’s ambassador to Angola, Oren Rozenblat, has told the Angolan ministry of foreign affairs that Israel will interrupt cooperation with Angola,” read the official statement.

It added that Rozenblat would meet the Angolan geographic director for the Middle East later on Tuesday to express Israel’s “disappointment and outrage over Angola’s vote.”

This diplomatic sanction comes amid a campaign by the Israeli government to retaliate against the 14 countries in the UN’s Security Council who voted in favor of Resolution 2334, which defines the Jewish colonies in East Jerusalem and the West Bank – also known as settlements or outposts – as illegal.

The resolution, which is not legally binding, said that the UNSC “reaffirms that the establishment by Israel of settlements in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, has no legal validity.”

It added that the erection of settlements “constitutes a flagrant violation under international law and a major obstacle to the achievement of the two-State solution and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace.”

It also demanded that Israel “immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and that it fully respect all of its legal obligations in this regard.”

In any case, the effects of Israel’s decision to block aid to Angola are expected to be limited, as the Middle Eastern nation has a low level of cooperation with the African country and joint activity between the states has been sparse.

Attempts to obtain a statement from the Israeli government went unresponded to.

Source: LAHT