In this December 18, 2017 photo, the United Nations Security Council votes on a resolution concerning Jerusalem’s status at the UN Headquarters. The US has vetoed a resolution supported by the 14 other UN Security Council members that would have required President Donald Trump to rescind his declaration of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel — a vote that showed the depth of global opposition to the US move. (Kim Haughton/United Nations via AP)
UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to denounce President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, largely ignoring the United States leader’s threats to cut off aid to any country that would go against him.
The non-binding resolution 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 that 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 afterward that he completely rejects the “preposterous” resolution.
Palestinian UN 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 Haley sending letters to over 180 countries warning that Washington would be taking names of those who voted against the US. Trump went further, threatening a funding cutoff: “Let them vote against us. We’ll save a lot. We don’t care.”
But in the end, major US aid recipients, including Afghanistan, Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and South Africa supported the resolution. Egypt received roughly $1.4 billion in US aid this 2017, and Jordan about $1.3 billion.
The nine countries voting “no” were US, Israel, Guatemala, Honduras, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, the Marshall Islands, and Togo. Among the abstentions were Australia, Argentina, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, and Mexico.
The absent countries included Kenya, which was the fifth-largest recipient of US aid in 2016, Georgia, and Ukraine, all of which have close ties with the US.
The US is scheduled to dispense $25.8 billion in foreign aid for 2018. Whether Trump follows through with his threat against those who voted “yes”, however, remains to be seen.
After the vote, Haley tweeted a photo naming the 65 nations that voted no, abstained or were absent, and said: “We appreciate these countries for not falling to the irresponsible ways of the UN.”
But within hours, the Trump administration appeared to be backing away from its funding threats. In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said cuts to countries that opposed the US are not a foregone conclusion.
“The president’s foreign policy team has been empowered to explore various options going forward with other nations,” Nauert said. “However, no decisions have been made.”
During the debate, Arab, Islamic, and non-aligned nations urged a “yes” vote on the resolution, which was sponsored by Yemen and Turkey.
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.”
He called Trump’s action “a blatant violation of the rights of the Palestinian people and the Arab nations, and all Muslims and Christians of the world,” and “a dangerous violation and breach of international law.”
On Wednesday, Trump complained that Americans are tired of being taken advantage of by countries that take billions of dollars and then vote against the US. Haley echoed his words in her speech to the packed assembly chamber, threatening not only member states with funding cuts, but the UN itself.
Haley said the vote will make no difference in US plans to move the American Embassy, but it “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,” she warned.
Trump’s pressure tactics had raised the stakes at Thursday’s emergency meeting and triggered accusations from the Muslim world of US bullying and blackmail.
“It is unethical to think that the votes and dignity of member states are for sale,” said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. “We will not be intimidated! You can be strong but this does not make you right!”
The Palestinians and their supporters sought the General Assembly vote after the US vetoed on Monday a resolution supported by the 14 other UN Security Council members that would have required Trump to rescind his declaration on Jerusalem.
The resolution adopted by the assembly has language similar to the defeated measure.
It “affirms that any decisions and actions which purport to have 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.” /kga