(Parliament Times) Defying President Donald Trump’s threat to cut off funding, the United Nations overwhelmingly approved a motion rejecting the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. The 193-member General Assembly adopted the motion by 128 to nine with 35 abstentions. Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau and Togo joined the United States in opposing the measure. Among the countries that abstained were Argentina, Australia, Canada, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Mexico, the Philippines, Poland, Romania and Rwanda. Speaking ahead of the emergency session, US Ambassador Nikki Haley warned the General Assembly that the United States will remember this day.The resolution reaffirms that the status of Jerusalem must be resolved through negotiations, and that any decision reached outside of that framework must be rescinded.
The motion was sent to the General Assembly after it was vetoed by the United States at the Security Council, although all other 14 council members voted in favour.
While resolutions by the General Assembly are non-binding, a strong vote in support carries political weight. Ahead of the vote, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blasted the UN as a “house of lies,” saying Israel “rejects outright this vote, even before it passes.”
Palestinian foreign minister Riad al-Malki called the vote an “unprecedented test” for the UN, and referenced the US warning that it was “taking names.” Trump’s decision on December 6 to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital prompted a flurry of appeals to the United Nations. The status of the Holy City is one of the thorniest issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with both sides claiming it as their capital. Trump warned that Washington would closely watch how nations voted, suggesting, like Haley, there could be financial reprisals for those that back the motion put forward by Yemen and Turkey on behalf of Arab and Muslim countries. No country has veto powers in the General Assembly, unlike in the 15-member Security Council where the United States, along with Britain, China, France and Russia, can block any resolution. Several UN resolutions call on Israel to withdraw from territory seized in 1967 and the draft resolution contains the same language as past motions adopted by the assembly.
Addressing the UN General Assembly, Pakistan permanent representative to the United Nations Maleeha Lodhi said that the US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital is a violation of the international laws. Ambassador Lodhi said they were in favour of Palestine and justified demands of the Palestinian people, and that today’s session would convey a clear message to the world against this ‘illegal decision.’ The top diplomat said that Pakistan fully backs UN resolution pertaining to Jerusalem.
The United Nations overwhelmingly vote against the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital is a massive setback for the United States as even the closest allies of the US voiced their concerns. The US recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel has exposed Trump’s insistence to follow his unwise policies. Pakistan has played vibrant role at United Nations regarding the issue and proved that people of Pakistan stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine and would continue to extend moral and diplomatic support for the Palestinian cause.
