The United Nations General Assembly’s debate and vote highlighted for a second time in a week the international isolation of the United States over the Jerusalem issue.
The UN General Assembly yesterday decisively backed a resolution effectively calling on the United States to withdraw its recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
The text says that any decisions regarding the status of the city are "null and void" and must be cancelled.
128 countries voted for the document, nine were against it, another 35 abstained.
The resolution was not supported by the United States, Israel, Honduras, Guatemala, Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau and Togo.
The Guardian says the vote came after a redoubling of threats by Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the UN, who said that Washington would remember which countries “disrespected” America by voting against it.
The vote, while a victory for the Palestinians, was significantly lower than its supporters had hoped for, with many forecasting at least 150 “yes” votes, according to Independent. There were a total of 35, while 21 nations did not turn up for the vote.
According to The Guardian, 21 delegations were absent from the vote, suggesting the Trump’s warning over funding cuts and Israel’s lobbying may have had some effect.
Recall, Donald Trump in early December announced the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and at the same time signed a document on the transfer of the American embassy from Tel Aviv there.
The decision of the U.S. leader was welcomed by Israel, but it provoked a negative reaction from many states of the world and Palestine.
On December 18, the UN Security Council voted on the draft resolution proposed by Egypt. The UN Security Council recognized as invalid all actions that are aimed at changing the status of Jerusalem.
In addition, the draft required States, in accordance with Council Resolution 478 (1980), to refrain from opening diplomatic missions in this city. The resolution was not adopted, since the US delegation applied the right of veto, all other members of the Security Council supported the document.
Previously, Trump said that the United States would stop providing financial assistance to countries that supported the resolution. US permanent representative to the UN Nikki Haley also reported that the document does not affect the decision of Washington to transfer the country’s embassy to Jerusalem.
