Several Latin American and African nations abstain from vote after America threatened to cut aid programmes
In a humiliating blow for Donald Trump on the world stage, the United Nations General Assembly has voted by 128 to nine to declare his controversial decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital “null and void”.
Just days after the US used its veto power at the UN Security Council to block a similar measure, the General Assembly resoundingly condemned the America’s unilateral action, which most observers said would hamper efforts to secure peace in the Middle East.
While the vote has little practical impact – it is not legally binding – it is a considerable embarrassment for the US as it reflects global opinion.
As the US licked its wounds, Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas’s spokesman Nabil Abu Rdainah seized on what he said was a “victory for Palestine”.
“We will continue our efforts in the United Nations and at all international forums to put an end to this occupation, and to establish our Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital,” Mr Rdainah said.
Thirty-five countries, many in Africa and Latin America, abstained from the vote.
Experts had predicted at least 150 votes in support of the motion. There was speculation that the high number of abstentions was a result of the Trump administration’s threat to “take names” of countries and cut off humanitarian aid funding.
Rwanda, Uganda, South Sudan, Malawi, and several Caribbean and Pacific island nations all abstained. Canada, Poland, Australia, and Mexico also joined them in sitting out the vote, in perhaps a nod to other political pressures from the US.
Britain voted for the motion, as did India and Russia.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he completely rejected the “preposterous” UN resolution.
He said in a video on Facebook that Jerusalem “always was, always will be” Israel’s capital. He also said he appreciated that “a growing number of countries” had refused to participate in the “theatre of the absurd”.
Mr Netanyahu also thanked Mr Trump for his “stalwart defence of Israel”. Also joining the US and Israel were Togo, Guatemala, Nauru, Palau, Micronesia, Marshall Islands and Honduras.
Despite the disapproval of so many countries, Richard Gowan, a UN expert at the European Council on Foreign Relations, told The Independent the vote is still a “win for Trump in a perverse way”.
“It fits with his tough guy, anti-globalist image. If he had backed down in the face of UN pressure he would have looked hollow to his domestic supporters,” Mr Gowan said.
However, it is not a “win” for Ms Haley in his estimation. ”She looks diplomatically isolated and a little inept, and has undone” the work she has put in to build relationships with diplomats, Mr Gowan noted.
The White House has not publicly commented on the vote as yet, but Ms Haley took to Twitter to “appreciate these countries for not falling to the irresponsible ways of the UN”, and included a list of all those that voted “no” and abstained.
Poster Comment:
My Christmas list:
1. Terminate NATO, bring our troops home, and save lots of $.
2. Get the UN OUT of our country. Put it in that wonderfully diverse city of Londonistan. That should assuage the wrath of khan.
3. End this stupid “special relationship” between the oh-so noble country that forced slavery on us. Britain was our enemy before and its collaboration with muslims makes it our enemy now. And who wants to be allies with people who are so dentally challenged anyway?
4. Have a good time watching Europe pat its self on the back for its “diversity” whole committing suicide with its mass Muslim immigration.
Recognizing Jerusalem as the capital is nothing more than acknowledging reality. Deal with it. MERRY CHRISTMAS! (Or are you still celebrating ramadan over there?)
