The US faced complete isolation in the UN General Assembly last night as the world body took up for voting a draft resolution declaring recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital “null and void”. India joined 127 other countries to vote in favour of the resolution moved by Turkey and Yemen.
The General Assembly adopted the resolution with 128 countries voting in favour, nine against and 35 abstaining. Countries voting in favour of the resolution also disregarded Trump’s threat to cut off financial aid to countries that backed the draft resolution.
The UN General Assembly resolution stressed that Jerusalem was a final status issue to be resolved through negotiations. It demanded that all States comply with Security Council resolutions regarding Jerusalem, and not recognise any actions or measures contrary to those resolutions.
Strongly supporting Trump’s decision US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley warned that the US may strip funding of those countries that voted against its Jerusalem move. She told the General Assembly that the US will remember this day in which it was singled out for attack in the General Assembly. She said the US will remember it when it is called upon to, once again, make the world’s largest contribution to the United Nations.
India did not speak on the floor of the Assembly in New York, but after Trump recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, it had said that its Palestine position was independent and consistent.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had said recently that the path to Israel-Jerusalem peace clearly lay in an early negotiated solution between Israel and Palestine based on mutual recognition and security arrangements.
In opposing the resolution United States and Israel were joined by the Guatemala, Honduras and Togo. Canada, Mexico along with Australia, Bhutan, Poland, the Czech Republic and Romania among others abstained from the voting.
The Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the UN General Assembly resolution. His spokesman said in a statement that this decision reaffirms once again that the just Palestinian cause enjoys the support of international law, and no decision by any party can change the reality.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the UN vote but expressed satisfaction at the number of countries that didn’t vote for the measure.
