 On December 23, 2016, the United States, under the Obama Administration, abstained from United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334, effectively allowing it to pass.On December 28, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry strongly criticized Israel and its settlement policies in a speech.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly criticized the Administration's actions, and the Israeli government withdrew its annual dues from the organization, which totaled $6 million in United States dollars, on January 6, 2017.