REJECTED
UN defies Don’s threats, votes 128-9 to denounce America on Jerusalem
PRESIDENT TRUMP’S threats couldn’t stop the United Nations from overwhelmingly denouncing the U.S. for recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
The General Assembly voted 128 to 9 on Thursday to approve a resolution calling Trump’s declaration “null and void,” even as U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley told the group that “no vote in the United Nations will make any difference.” Haley said America was “singled out for attack” and “disrespected” by the vote.
A day earlier, Trump angered allies on the world stage by threatening to cut off funding to any nation that voted in favor of the resolution.
“Well, we’re watching those votes. Let them vote against us. We’ll save a lot. We don’t care,” the President said.
The UN emergency session, called in response to Trump announcing his decision earlier this month to formally recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and move the U.S. Embassy to the city from Tel Aviv, became heated as Haley amplified her boss’ threats.
“The United States will remember this day in which it was singled out for attack in the General Assembly for the very right of exercising our right as a sovereign nation.”
“We will remember it when we are called upon once again to make the world’s largest contribution to the United Nations,” Haley added. “And we will remember when so many countries come calling on us, as they so often do, to pay even more and to use our influence for their benefit.”
Major allies such as Britain, France and Germany all voted for the measure.
The UN resolution states that any decision to change the status of Jerusalem is null and void, has no legal effect, and must be rescinded. The measure is largely symbolic, but it offered a defiant rebuttal to Trump’s threats.
A handful of Pacific island and African nations, along with Guatemala and Honduras, voted against Thursday’s general assembly measure alongside the U.S. and Israel. Another 35 countries abstained and 21 did not participate in the vote.
The U.S. is slated to distribute $25.8 billion in foreign aid in 2018. Several of the top recipients of those funds, including Afghanistan, Egypt, Jordan and Pakistan, all voted to back the resolution.
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki balked at Trump’s overtures ahead of the vote.
“History records names, it remembers names — the names of those who stand by what is right and the names of those who speak falsehood,” he said. “Today we are seekers of rights and peace.”
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey tossed Trump’s words, and possibly U.S. dollars, back at the President.
“Mr. Trump, you cannot buy Turkey’s democratic will with your dollars. Our decision is clear,” he said. “I call on the whole world: Don’t you dare sell your democratic struggle and your will for petty dollars.”
Days earlier, the U.S. was the only member of the 15-member UN Security Council to veto a similar resolution.
Yemeni Ambassador Khaled Hussein Mohamed Alyemany warned that Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem undermines any chance for peace in the Mideast and “serves to fan the fires of violence and extremism.”
An aide to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas thanked countries that voted in favor of the resolution, “despite all the pressure exerted on them.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he completely rejects the measure and called it “preposterous.” He also thanked Trump for his “stalwart defense of Israel.”
Jerusalem remains at the center of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as both sides lay claim to the holy city — revered by Jews, Christians and Muslims — as their capital.
Haley, who sent out a letter to more than 180 countries warning that Washington would be closely watching the results, refused to back down as she chastised the General Assembly on Thursday.
“America will put our embassy in Jerusalem. That is what the American people want us to do. And it is the right thing to do,” Haley told the assembly on Thursday. “No vote in the United Nations will make any difference on that. But this vote will make a difference on how Americans look at the UN. And on how we look at countries who disrespect us in the UN. And this vote will be remembered.”
Trump’s Dec. 6 declaration regarding Jerusalem has led to condemnation from world leaders and sparked near-daily violence between Israelis and Palestinians. Previous U.S. policy and current UN policy mandates that the city’s fate would be decided through negotiations.
Nihad Awad, national executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, condemned Trump’s promise to cut funds in response to the vote.
“Our government should not use its leadership at the UN to bully/blackmail other nations that stand for religious liberty and justice in Jerusalem. Justice is a core value of Christianity, Judaism and Islam,” Awad tweeted.
The United States will remember this day in which it was singled out for attack in the General Assembly for the very right of exercising our right as a sovereign nation. NIKKI HALEY (LEFT) I call on the whole world: Don’t you dare sell your democratic struggle and your will for petty dollars. TURKISH PRESIDENT RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN