US vetoes UN draft resolution rejecting Trump’s decision to name Jerusalem as new capital of Israel

A United Nations Security Council draft resolution rejecting President Donald Trump’s recent recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, has been vetoed by the US.

The draft resolution according to reports was backed 14 other Security Council members, including many US allies, highlighting Washington’s increasing isolation over an issue.

“What is troublesome to some people […] is that the United States had the courage and honesty to recognise a fundamental reality,” Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the UN, said.

“Jerusalem has been the political, cultural, and spiritual homeland of the Jewish people for thousands of years – they have had no other capital city,” she continued.

“The United States has the sovereignty to determine where and whether we establish an embassy,” said Haley, describing the vote as an “insult” that “won’t be forgotten”.

Read also: Global powers stand by Iran nuclear deal despite Trump’s policy shift

Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the UN, said: “It is paradoxical that while we were waiting for a peace plan from the US, the administration instead decided to further obstruct peace and delay its realisation.

“The US decision encourages Israel to persist in its crimes against the Palestinian people and to continue its occupation of our territory. No rhetoric will hide this complacency in prolonging the occupation,” he added.

Reports say the decision to recognise occupied Jerusalem as Israel’s capital was hotly contested by Turkey, Palestine and other countries with Ankara said to be at the forefront of galvanising efforts on passing the resolution at the UN General Assembly against the decision.

Turkey, Palestine and other parties pushed the issue to the UN General Assembly, where all 193 members of the international organisation were represented on Monday.

 

 

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