Trump shot down

THE United Nations General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly to denounce Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, ignoring the US President’s threats to cut off aid to any country that went against him.

The non-binding resolution yesterday declaring US action on Jerusalem “null and void” was approved 128-9 — a victory for the Palestinians, but not as big as they predicted.

Amid Washington’s threats, 35 of the 193 UN member nations abstained and 21 were absent. The resolution reaffirmed what has been the UN’s stand on the divided holy city since 1967: that Jerusalem’s final status must be decided in direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

The Trump administration made it clear the vote would have no effect on its plan to move the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

And Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said later he completely rejected the “preposterous” resolution.

Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour called the vote a victory not only for the Palestinians but for the UN and international law, saying US Ambassador Nikki Haley “failed miserably” in persuading only seven countries aside from the US and Israel to vote against the resolution. “And they used unprecedented tactics, unheard of in the diplomatic work at the UN, including blackmail and extortion,” he said.

The US and Israel had waged an intensive lobbying campaign against the measure, with Ms Haley sending letters to more than 180 countries, warning Washington would be taking names of those who voted against the US.

Mr Trump went further, threatening a funding cut-off.

But in the end, major US aid recipients, including Afghanistan, Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Tanzania and South Africa, supported the resolution. Egypt received $1.8 billion in aid this year, and Jordan $1.7 billion.

Guatemala, Honduras, Micronesia, Nauru and Togo voted no. Australia, Canada and Mexico were among the abstentions.