Rubio: Obama’s criticism of Israeli settlements is ‘deplorable’

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) blasted the Obama administration for criticizing new settlement construction in East Jerusalem.

“The Obama administration’s decision to criticize Israel for housing construction in Jerusalem, even as the President hosted Prime Minister Netanyahu at the White House yesterday, was deplorable,” Rubio said Thursday. “This is another case of President Obama’s bizarre logic of tearing down our closest partners while building up those who do not share our values.”

{mosads}Rubio’s comments came after Israel approved the construction of more than 2,500 homes in East Jerusalem, angering Palestinians that claim the land is theirs. The administration and State Department scolded Israel over the plan while Benjamin Netanyahu was in town this week meeting with the president.

“Jerusalem is Israel’s capital and the United States should not be condemning zoning and permitting decisions made by Jerusalem’s municipal government,” Rubio said. “Especially now, when Israel and moderate Arab states in the Middle East are facing terrorist attacks, the president should begin to treat Israel as the invaluable and reliable friend it truly is.”

Rubio is considered a possible GOP presidential nominee in 2016. He has made a point of emphasizing the importance of the Israel-U.S. partnership.