Conservative leadership candidates Lisa Raitt and Kellie Leitch denounced the Liberal government’s lack of a response Wednesday to outgoing U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s criticism of Israel.

“At a time when Justin Trudeau has made it a priority to seek a seat on the UN security council. Silence on Israel. At a time when the US administration is lecturing Israel on achieving peace, while allowing a resolution counter to achieving peace, pass. Silence on Israel,” Raitt wrote on her Facebook page Wednesday afternoon.

“We should never accept silence on Israel. We should never be silent when Israel is singled out at the UN. Canada needs a principled stance. One that singles out Israel for being the only civilized democracy in the Middle East constantly being showered with rockets by those who do not believe she should exist.”

On the heels of the U.S. decision last Friday to abstain from voting on a UN Security Council resolution that declared Israeli settlements in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem illegal and demanded an end to their expansion, on Wednesday Kerry rebuked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for undermining any hope of a Palestinian state and a lasting piece.

“The Israeli prime minister publicly supports a two-state solution, but his current coalition is the most right wing in Israeli history, with an agenda driven by its most extreme elements,” Kerry said, only 23 days before his tenure ends.

“The result is that policies of this government — which the prime minister himself just described as ‘more committed to settlements than any in Israel’s history’ — are leading in the opposite direction, towards one state.”

As it did following the vote on the resolution — which was drafted by Palestine and supported by Britain, France, Russia, Japan, Angola, Uruguay, Senegal, China, Ukraine, Egypt, Spain and New Zealand — Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government refrained from commenting on Kerry’s statement Wednesday.

A spokesperson in the Prime Minister’s Office referred iPolitics to Global Affairs Canada. Foreign Affairs Minister Stéphane Dion’s spokespeople hadn’t responded by publication.

Early Wednesday, though, Dion did tweet a picture of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, noting what a pleasure it had been to work on UN initiatives with him.

It’s been a true pleasure working on #UN initiatives with Ban Ki-Moon over the past year. pic.twitter.com/1XH7wGmaN7 — Stéphane Dion (@MinCanadaFA) December 28, 2016

The closest thing to a government response came from University of Ottawa professor Roland Paris, who served as a foreign policy advisor to Trudeau before returning to academic life.

Paris tweeted that Canada, as a friend of Israel, should oppose the settlements.

As a friend of Israel, Canada should maintain its support for two-state solution & opposition to settlement expansion—even if Trump doesn't. — Roland Paris (@rolandparis) December 28, 2016

Raitt and other Conservative leadership candidates disagreed, condemning the “one-sided anti-Israel resolution”.

Kellie Leitch accused Trudeau of failing to stand with Israel

Clear and principled foreign policy should be Canada’s hallmark. Unlike @JustinTrudeau, I will always #StandWithIsrael. #cpcldr — Kellie Leitch (@KellieLeitch) December 28, 2016

Vivian Bercovici, who served as Canada’s ambassador to Israel under the Harper government, tweeted that history will judge Kerry, but avoided taking a shot at Trudeau or the Liberals.

Andrew Scheer didn’t tweet about Kerry’s remarks Wednesday, but did criticize the Obama administration after the resolution vote.

I will always be a strong voice for Israel. Shameful that Obama closes out his term by allowing a one-sided UN resolution to attack Israel. — Andrew Scheer (@andrewscheer) December 23, 2016

So did Erin O’Toole, Steven Blaney and former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who complimented President-elect Donald Trump’s criticism of the motion.

The US abstention on #Israel yesterday at the UN showed weak international leadership & underscores the growing irrelevance of the UN 1/2 — Erin O'Toole (@ErinOTooleMP) December 24, 2016

I condemn the biased UN resolution on Israel, counter-productive to a real conflict resolution. pic.twitter.com/K3PRVkpR0G — Steven Blaney (@StevenBlaneyPCC) December 24, 2016

Thank you President-elect @realDonaldTrump for being a principled voice on Israel at the #UN. — Stephen Harper (@stephenharper) December 23, 2016