UNSC to vote today on US’ Jerusalem stance
New York, Dec. 18: The UN Security Council will vote today ( on Tuesday) on a draft resolution that would reject US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, diplomats said.
Egypt requested the vote today, a day after it presented the measure that is likely to be vetoed by the United States.
Breaking with international consensus, Trump this month announced that he would recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and move the US embassy there from Tel Aviv, sparking protests and strong condemnation.
US Vice President Mike Pence will visit Jerusalem on Wednesday, wading into the crisis over one of the most controversial issues in the Israeli- Palestinian conflict.
Israel seized control of the eastern part of the city in the 1967 Middle East war and sees all of Jerusalem as its undivided capital. The Palestinians view the east as the capital of future state.
The draft resolution obtained by AFP stresses that Jerusalem is an issue “to be resolved through negotiations” and expresses “deep regret at recent decisions concerning the status of Jerusalem,” without specifically mentioning Mr Trump’s move. “Any decisions and actions which purport to have their altered the character, status or demographic composition of the Holy City of Jerusalem have no legal effect, are null and void and must be rescinded,” it said.
Diplomats said that they expected the United States to use its veto power to block the measure but that most, if not all, of the 14 other members are expected to back the draft resolution.