(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) WASHINGTON, Jan 18 (KUNA) -- President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for the UN ambassadorship slammed the Obama Administration's vote abstention last month on a resolution condemning illegal Israeli settlements, and vowed to consistently back Israel if she is approved for the role.
South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley - who has no foreign policy experience - told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at her confirmation hearing that while she does "understand how (settlements) can hinder peace," she will "always stand with Israel." She added that the US must be "the moral compass of the world," and in doing so, support Israel at an international body that does not favor it.
"I will not go to New York and abstain when the UN seeks to create an international environment that encourages boycotts of Israel," Haley said, adding that she is "proud" to lead the first state in the country that announced measures against the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
"There is no good, fair, honest answer as to why they continue to pick on Israel," she stressed.
The 44-year-old also confirmed she is in agreement with Trump's position that the US embassy should be moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Lawmakers then pressed Haley on Russia, the other dominant topic of the session.
When asked if the Russian bombing of Aleppo in Syria is a "genocide," she responded, "Absolutely." "Russia is trying to show their muscle right now. It's what they do," she said.
"I don't think that we can trust them -- We have to continue to be very strong and show them what this new administration is going to be." Haley noted Trump's willingness to work with the Kremlin, and said fighting the so-called Islamic State (IS) could be a key area of cooperation between the two countries.
She did not, however, condemn the Kremlin outright for its annexation of Crimea in 2014, but acknowledged that Russia seized Ukrainian territory. (end) ys.gb
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