US Jewish groups warmly welcomed the vote by the House of Representative of a motion expressing opposition to the UN Security Council resolution against settlements after the US abstained instead of using its veto power.

The motion, passed 342-80, garnering the support of both Republicans and Democrats, a bipartisan measure that splits with the outgoing Obama administration and sides with the incoming Trump administration on thisissue.

While Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi opposed the measure House Speaker Paul Ryan defended it. "I am stunned at what happened last month. Our government abandoned our ally Israel when she needed us the most," Ryan said.

The House resolution, which is non-binding and more of a statement, calls on the United Nations to repeal the UN resolution and says US President Barack Obama violated long-standing policy regarding Israel. It demands that the U.S. take no action at the upcoming Paris Mideast conference.

The House measure, whivch was introduced by Reps. Ed Royce (Republican California) and Eliot Engel (Democrat from New York), also says the United Nations' condemnation of Israel is anti-Israel and will hamper the peace process because it does nothing to admonish Palestinian actions.

The World Jewish Congress (WJC) said it “applauded” the House for its adoption of the motion, as did the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) National President Morton A. Klein stated, “We appreciate every single congressperson who condemned UNSC Res. 2334 and [US Secretary of State John] Kerry’s speech, and who has committed to action to reverse the horrendous anti-Israel resolution.”

B’nai B’rith International President Gary P. Saltzman stated, “We commend the US House of Representatives for its unwavering support of the Jewish state. The United Nations’ bias toward Israel is both unfounded and incessant, and this resolution was yet another example of that. The American abstention on the UN vote, which enabled the resolution to pass, was simply unacceptable.”

Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations Chairman Stephen M. Greenberg and Vice Chairman and CEO Malcolm Hoenlein said ‘’a strong message from the leaders and members of the United States Congress will show the world that the American people stand with Israel and support direct negotiations as the only path to true peace.’’

‘’We welcome the fact that key Republican and Democratic leaders in both [the House and Senate] have endorsed the legislation. It again demonstrates that support for Israel is strongly bipartisan and will remain so in the new Congress.”

In a statement, Anti-Defamation League (ADL) National Chair Marvin D. Nathan and CEO Jonathan A. Greenblatt said ‘’This vote and the statements, even by some Members who did not support the Resolution, sends an important signal about the deep bench of support in Congress for Israel and for a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.’’

‘’As we enter a period of one party government, it’s vital for Americans and Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle to move forward in unison, building on decades of America’s bipartisan support for its vital ally and sister democracy, Israel,’’ they added.

A similar measure was introduced in the Senate rejecting the Security Council resolution and at the same time, strongly supporting a two-state solution for both Israelis and Palestinians.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released the following statement on the US House of Representatives vote : "After the outrageous anti-Israel resolution at the UN, the US House of Representatives voted yesterday resoundingly to support Israel and reject this one-sided resolution. Democrats and Republicans alike know that the Western Wall isn't occupied territory.They voted to either repeal the resolution at the UN or change it—and that's exactly what we intend to do. I want to thank the US House of Representatives which reflects the tremendous support Israel enjoys among the American people.’’