US to cut funding for those voting against it
DONALD Trump has threatened to withhold billions of dollars in aid from nations that criticise his controversial decision to unilaterally recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
In a raising of the stakes over the US’s move to recognise Jerusalem and eventually shift its embassy there – something long requested by Israel and its conservative supporters in the US – Mr Trump said he could penalise countries that voted against it at the UN.
Previously, the US’s UN Ambassador Nikki Haley had warned the US would would be “taking names” of any countries that supported a resolution criticising Washington’s actions.
A vote was expected overnight after the US vetoed a vote by the UN Security Council that would have demanded Mr Trump reverse his decision.
Associated Press said Ms Haley had written to most of the 193 UN members states warning of possible retaliation. She said the President was taking the matter personally.
On Wednesday, Mr Trump told members of his cabinet he liked what Ms Haley had spelled out. “For all these nations, they take our money and then vote against us. They take hundreds of millions of dollars, even billions of dollars and then they vote against us,” Mr Trump said.
“We’re watching those votes. Let them vote against us. We’ll save a lot. We don't care.”
Earlier this month, Mr Trump declared he was recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and moving the US Embassy from Tel Aviv, a decision that other countries had for decades declined to take because the status of the city was always considered central to part of any peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
“Today we finally acknowledge the obvious: that Jerusalem is Israel’s capital,” he said when he made the announcement.
His decision sparked widespread criticism and demonstrations.