Trump starts to flex muscles on foreign policy - even before he takes office

US President-elect Donald Trump has made his most strident entry yet into the failing Middle East peace process, with a blistering attack on the Obama administration that signaled his intention to stand behind Israel in the escalating stand-off, The Independent newspaper reported.

In the latest and clearest attempt by the incoming president to assert his authority ahead of his inauguration next month, Trump accused Barack Obama of showing “total disdain and disrespect” towards Israel.

His comments – delivered on Twitter along with an accusation that the president was erecting “roadblocks” for his transition – came as Secretary of State John Kerry launched an unprecedented attack on Israel. 

He accused Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of being the most right-wing in Israel’s history, and said it was driven by extremist elements.

That speech was in turn rejected by Mr Netanyahu, who called Mr Kerry’s 70-minute address a “great disappointment”.

The twisting day of drama, began with a series of early-morning tweets from Mr Obama ahead of Mr Kerry’s speech. 

Last week, Mr Trump had indicated he opposed a UN Security Council resolution that rebuked Israel over Jewish settlements – a vote that was only made possible by the US’s decision to abstain.

On Wednesday morning, just hours before Mr Kerry spoke at the State Department in Washington, he took aim at Mr Obama and last week’s UN vote.

"We cannot continue to let Israel be treated with such total disdain and disrespect. They used to have a great friend in the US,” he wrote.

“But not anymore. The beginning of the end was the horrible Iran deal, and now this (UN)! Stay strong Israel, January 20th is fast approaching.”

Source: MENA