- 128 countries voted in favour, 9 against and 35 abstained
- Pakistan terms U.S Jerusalem move violation of international laws
UNITED NATIONS: The UN General Assembly on Thursday adopted by a decisive vote of 128 to 9, with 35 abstentions, a motion rejecting the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel´s capital.
President Donald Trump had warned ahead of the vote in the 193-nation assembly that “we’re watching” and threatened reprisals against countries that back the measure.
His warning did appear to have some impact with nine countries voting against the resolution and 35 abstaining.
The motion was put forward by Yemen and Turkey on behalf of Arab and Muslim countries.
“They take hundreds of millions of dollars and even billions of dollars and then they vote against us,” Trump had said at the White House.
“Well, we’re watching those votes. Let them vote against us. We’ll save a lot. We don’t care.”
Diplomats had expected strong support for the resolution, which is non-binding, despite the US pressure to either abstain, vote against it or simply not turn up for the vote.
On Tuesday, US Ambassador Nikki Haley sent an email to fellow UN envoys to put them on notice that “the president will be watching this vote carefully and has requested I report back on those countries who voted against us.”
“We will take note of each and every vote on this issue,” she wrote in the message seen by AFP.
On Twitter, Haley posted that “the US will be taking names” when the ambassadors of the 193-nation assembly cast their vote on Thursday.
“Nikki, that was the right message,” Trump said.
A council diplomat said Canada, Hungary and the Czech Republic might bow to US pressure, but the motion is all but certain to be approved. No country has veto powers in the General Assembly, contrary to the council where the United States, along with Britain, China, France and Russia, can block any resolution.
Pakistan permanent representative to the United Nations (UN) Maleeha Lodhi said that the US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital is a violation of the international laws.
In her address with the UN General Assembly, 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.’
“Pakistan has been supporting the rights of the Palestinian people and backing their struggle is an important part of its foreign policy,” she said, pledging Islamabad’s continued support to the people of Palestine.
The top diplomat said that Pakistan fully backs UN resolution pertaining to Jerusalem. “No plan changing the status of Jerusalem is acceptable to us.”
“The people of Palestine will not accept any decision except for the two-state solution,” she maintained, adding that the UN was the last hope for the Palestinian people. – Agencies
