GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman issued a decision Dec. 25 demanding that the head of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, Maj. Gen. Yoav Mordechai, halt all forms of local political meetings and coordination with Palestinian officials. This decision was in response to the Dec. 23 UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which condemned Israeli settlements.

Palestinian officials viewed the decision — which did not include security coordination given its importance to both Palestinians and Israelis — as media hype to address Israeli public opinion. The Israeli opposition has leveled harsh criticism against Benjamin Netanyahu's government for the UN resolution.

On Dec. 30, Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas criticized Liberman’s decision and rejected Israel’s method of dealing with the Palestinians. He stressed that security coordination between both sides will continue, considering it a common Israeli-Palestinian interest.

The UN resolution, which Palestinians described as historic, was adopted with 14 votes, while the United States abstained without vetoing the resolution. Netanyahu, however, said it was a “shameful” resolution and accused the Obama administration of standing behind it.