Trump threatens U.S. aid over U.N. vote
Resolution to address status of Jerusalem
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump threatened Wednesday to cut off U.S. funding to countries that support a resolution criticizing his decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
“We’ll save a lot. We don’t care,” he said, alluding to U.S. aid.
The president strongly supported U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley who said Tuesday that the United States “will be taking names” of countries that vote in favor of a General Assembly resolution Thursday declaring that Jerusalem’s status can be changed only by direct Israeli-palestinian negotiations.
“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,” Trump told reporters at a Cabinet meeting in Washington with Haley sitting nearby. “We’re watching those votes. Let them vote against us.”
In a letter to more than 180 of the 193 U.N. member states and an even tougher tweet Tuesday, Haley hinted at possible U.S. retaliation, but Trump’s comments made clear to recipients of U.S. assistance that billions of dollars could be at stake.
Haley’s threat drew sharp criticism from the Palestinian and Turkish foreign ministers before they flew to New York for the General Assembly vote. They accused the U.S. of intimidation.
Unlike the Security Council, assembly resolutions are not legally binding but they do reflect world opinion.
In Wednesday’s letter, Haley said the Trump administration is “simply asking that you acknowledge the historical friendship, partnership, and support we have extended and respect our decision about our own embassy.”
She said the U.S. Congress decided 22 years ago that Jerusalem should be recognized as the capital of Israel and Trump followed through on that decision.
“The president will be watching this vote carefully and has requested I report back on those countries who voted against us,” she wrote in the letter obtained by AP. “We will take note of each and every vote on this issue.”
Her tweet was sharper: “At the UN we’re always asked to do more & give more. So, when we make a decision, at the will of the American ppl, abt where to locate OUR embassy, we don’t expect those we’ve helped to target us. On
Thurs there’ll be a vote criticizing our choice. The US will be taking names.”