In the latest sign of the huge political gulf between the incoming and outgoing american president s, and the likely impact of their very different worldviews, donald trump has again attacked the United Nations. The President Elect had already criticised the un for passing a Security Council resolution last week that condemned illegal israeli settlements on occupied palestinian land. Unusually, the us did not back israel in that vote, but abstained. Mr trump, just three weeks now from taking office, made his latest comments outside his home in palm beach, florida. The un has such tremendous potential and it is not living up to its potential. There is such tremendous potential. There is such tremendous potential. When you see the United Nations solving problems, they dont, they cause problems. So if it lives up to the potential its a great thing and if it doesnt its a waste of time. Jewish settlements are one of the most contentious issues between israel and the palestinians, which sees them as an obstacle to the creation of a viable palestinian state. The us is israels major financial backer but in the past few weeks of the Obama Administration frustration to the hardline Benjamin Netanyahu government frustration to the hardline Benjamin Neta nyahu government have frustration to the hardline Benjamin Netanyahu government have boiled Overin Netanyahu government have boiled over in washington. John kerry said today israel would never find over in washington. John kerry said today israel would neverfind peace without a resolution to the settle m e nt without a resolution to the settlement issue. Our middle east correspondent Yolande Knell Reports from jerusalem. Another bitter row between outgoing and incoming us president , this time of israel. Donald trump complaining the country is being treated with total disdain and disrespect, but telling it to stay strong until the 20th Of January when he takes office. It was the idea of the nights Speech Byjohn Kerry that angered the President Elect. He said the chances of peace with the palestinians were slipping away. The truth is that trends on the ground, violence, terrorism, incitement, settle m e nt violence, terrorism, incitement, Settlement Expansion and the seemingly endless occupation, they are combining to destroy hopes for peace on both sides. This follows last weeks un Security Council resolution, calling for a total halt in israeli settlements on occupied land. The us didnt use its veto power to protect israel, as it customarily does. The Obama Administration hasjust customarily does. The Obama Administration has just three weeks left, but it is still trying to make a difference here in the middle east, knowing that when donald trump ta kes east, knowing that when donald trump takes over he will be much more supportive of israel and its position on settlements and jerusalem in particular. If possible it would like to tie his hands. The Secretary Of State claim settlers in the right wing government are defining the future in israel, a prominent present of the governing coalition was quick to give his response. It was a good speech by totally unconnected to reality. What john kerry is leaving behind is the middle east in flames, a genocide, iran moving towards a Nuclear Weapons and now throwing israel under the bus. The us or two rounds of peace talks between israel and the palestinians during the obama yea rs. The palestinians during the obama years. Both broke down acrimoniously. The danger is that it is too little too late. Benjamin netanyahu Benjamin Neta nyahu has Benjamin Netanyahu has accused the Obama Administration of paying lipservice to palestinian organisations. Mr netanyahu also stated good relations between the us and israel would be restored when President ElectDonald Trump Takes Office next month. I have no doubt that our alliance will endure the profound disagreement we have had with the Obama Administration and will become Even Stronger in the future. But now i must express my deep disappointment with the speech the day ofjohn kerry. Speech today. A speech that was almost as imbalanced as the anti Israel Resolution passed last week. In a speech ostensibly about peace between israelis and palestinians, secretary kerry paid lip service to the unremitting campaign of terrorism that has been waged by the palestinians against the jewish state for nearly a century. What he did was to spend most of his speech blaming israel for the lack of peace, by passionately condemning a policy of enabling dues to live under historic in their historic homeland and in their capital jerusalem. Since then weve heard from palestinian president mahmoud abbas, responding tojohn kerrys speech. A Senior Palestinian official, saeb erekat, said mr abbas was convinced that peace with israel was achievable, but only if israel halts settlement building before talks restarted. President abbas is fully convinced that a just, comprehensive and lasting peace can be achieved and is doable on all core issues on the basis of the peace initiative, specify terms of reference, which guarantees to fully and the israeli occupation. Hussein ibish is a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in washington. Good to talk to you. I guess the first thought is surely what the point of of this now if mr kerry said some years ago, perhaps, but isnt it now beside the point . To some extent it is. I do agree with that and its a point i have made all day. It would have been potentially a very historic speech two, three orfour potentially a very historic speech two, three or four years ago, especially if it was backed up with real policies with consequences, so right now its a bit of a rhetorical exercise. But links to the us resolution it does send a message to israel, that the world, including many of its Close Friends in the us, in the president obama wing of the democratic party, are ultimately getting tired of the double act Prime Minister netanyahu has been doing, of pretending to support a Two State Solution Rhetorically while working Night And Day to basically make it any possibility through Settlement Activity and other policies on the ground. So there is that, but i do think its a bit of a Restorer Collectors are is. Rhetorical. Bit of a Restorer Collectors are is. Rhetorical. It may be a nasty shock to mr netanyahu and his very right wing government, but the new world is mr trump and he has appointed a man to be in charge of theissue appointed a man to be in charge of the issue has contributed heavily financially to israeli settlements. He isnt going to be in charge of the issue. He is nominated to be the ambassador to israel. The ambassador doesnt make policy. He would first have to be confirmed by the senate. Secondly, ambassadors dont make policy, so we will have to wait and see what the policy is under mr trump andi see what the policy is under mr trump and i think it is probably true that Prime Minister netanyahu is salivating at the prospect and is actually trying to exacerbate tensions with president obama and john kerry in order to get closer to President Elect trump and his incoming administration. Im not sure it will work for him in the long run, it is risky and a gamble and it could backfire as well as it could succeed. Why do you thinkjohn kerry is saying it now . Is a design that they werent expecting to be handing over to a President Trump and were expecting to hand over to clinton . Is ita and were expecting to hand over to clinton . Is it a sign. And were expecting to hand over to clinton . Is it a sign. No, i think if they were handing over to president clinton they would be proceeding more cautiously. It is almost a post that gesture, where americans who are at the end of power or out of power tend to speak more freely about this issue. I think its a parting shot, to some extent, at Prime Minister maliki, but especially goes to the un resolution, and i think it made some very important points but wont help palestinians at all. Prime ministers met in you. Whatever price it extracts it wont be at the expense of the us or the voting countries who voted yes. The 14 countries. There was a point to make about the illegality of Settlement Activity, but all of this is a parting shot at Benjamin Netanyahu and in that sense. What do you expect the impact to be of mr trumps policy . A free Benjamin Neta nyahu . We have trumps policy . A free Benjamin Netanyahu . We have no idea and anyone who claims they do is making it up. I think he has high hopes but he should be cautious. Mr trump might takea he should be cautious. Mr trump might take a president ial Point Of View based on right wing populism and following the trend of going to the right and identifying rights in israel. But he also might take a nationalistic America First at chew. When israeli policy runs up against american policy he has even less patience than other republicans and democrats. So i think it is hard to know and anyone who is confident that they know what a trump Foreign Policy will look like i think is deluded. Good to talk to you. Thank you. Thank you so much. Syrian rebel groups say they are discussing a Ceasefire Deal with turkey, but that its too early to say if it has any chance of success. A top official with one of the main rebel groups said that one of the sticking points was the exclusion of a key rebel held area on the outskirts of damascus. This comes as moscow accuses rebels of firing two shells at its embassy in damascus. Lina sinjab has been following developments. So, the russians have announced that there were two attacks on their embassy in central damascus. The embassy is a big embassy in musra street in damascus, and of course we have heard also from some residents that at least two rockets fell, one outside the embassy and one inside the embassy. So far we dont know who is to blame for this attack. Of course, the russians have said that this is going to halt or effect any peace efforts. That is happening just at the time when russia and turkey are preparing for a nationwide ceasefire. The announcement came from the turkish side today, but hasnt been confirmed so far from either the russians or the government. But there is lots happening Behind The Scenes basically by the russians, in Co Ordination with turkey and iran, to set a sort of roadmap to end the conflict in syria. They are talking about talks and meetings in cows expand, in kazakhstan at the end of next month, inviting both the government and the opposition. So far is not clear which part of the opposition will take place when and if they happen. But even this week there are meetings taking place between russia and rebel groups to do discussions about a ceasefire and a wider plan for syria. Belgian officials have arrested a man in connection with the christmas the attack. Quick security is tight and the attack. Quick security is tightand in the attack. Quick security is tight and in berlin ahead of new year celebrations. Coming so close after the attack on the Christmas Market. 12 lives were lost and Dozens Injured when the truck ploughed into the crowds of christmas shoppers on evening of the 19th december. The man who was driving, anis amri from tunisia, was shot dead by police in milan four days later. Now another man, a a0 rolls, also from tunisia, has been detained in connection with what happened here. German prosecutors say his number was found on anis amris phone. It has been reported police raided his home and workplace in berlin. 0fficials Police raided his home and workplace in berlin. Officials have until thursday as to whether to formally arrested. The man who should have been driving the lorry was found deadin been driving the lorry was found dead in the passenger seat. His body has been taken back to poland where he came from the be examined. And other details about the investigation are emerging. The lorry had been moving at the speed. It has been reported that investigators say it is automatic rating system, which is triggered when an impact is incensed, may have prevented the loss of many more lives. Braking system. In germany at last years new year Celebration Dozens at last years new year Celebration D oze ns of at last years new year Celebration Dozens of women were assaulted in cologne and now, with the attack on berlin, cities all over the country are stepping up their response. Debbie reynolds has reportedly taken to hospital in the us, just one day after the death of her daughter Carrie Fisher. Details are scarce so far but several news outlets are reporting the 8a year old may have suffered a stroke. Stay with us. Much more to come, including this. The british Olympic Champion and Tour De France winner Bradley Wiggins retires from cycling at the age of 36. The most ambitious financial and political change ever attempted has got underway with the introduction of the euro. Tomorrow, in holland, were gonna use money we picked up in belgium today, then well be in france, and again itll be the same money. It has just got to be the way to go. George harrison, the former beatle, is recovering in hospital after being stabbed in his 0xfordshire home. A 33 year old man from liverpool is being interviewed by police on suspicion of attempted murder. I think it was good. Just good . No, fantastic. Thats better. This is bbc news. Im mike embley. The latest headlines us President Elect donald trump has launched a scathing attack on the un saying it has caused problems rather than solved them. Us secretary of Statejohn Kerry has said israeli settlement building in the west bank threatens hopes for peace in the middle east. Israels accused him of bias. More on that now our washington Correspondent Laura Bicker explained more about the timing of the Secretary Of States intervention, so soon before leaving office. Firstly, he may want to lay down a marker but we understand this is a speech he has wanted to make for a long time. The white house wouldnt let him. Certainly this is what were hearing. We from reports that he felt anger at Prime Minister netanyahu he felt anger at Prime Minister neta nyahu rather than push he felt anger at Prime Minister netanyahu rather than push israel further towards a negotiating table. From the reaction today, that seems to be Whatjohn Kerry has done. However, it would bejohn kerrys peace to broker. It will be Donald Trumps turn. He wants to be a friend to israel. The interesting thing about pointing out friendship is the face of it, Prime Minister netanyahu is the face of it, Prime Minister neta nyahu and is the face of it, Prime Minister netanyahu and 0bamacare seemed to get on but Behind The Scenes, there seems to be co operation both in security and intelligence president obama. They are close when it comes to Sharing Intelligence between america and israel. There was a 38 billion package of military aid that will go to israel thanks to the Obama Administration. An amount that is there for ten yea rs an amount that is there for ten years for israel to use one missile defence. Of course, president 0bamas administration has not used it veto at the un Security Council very often. Unlike previous administrations, this one was an exception that was used by days ago. Behind the scenes and actually when it comes to relations between the two countries. There has been co