The UN General Assembly has, by a clear majority, condemned United States ' decision to recognise Jerusalem as capital of Israel. 128 states, among m Germany, agreed to a corresponding resolution. 35 states abstained, 21 were absent, nine voted against, among m Israel and United States. Turkey, as incumbent chairman of Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC), had brought resolution. It calls on US to take back decision to recognise Jerusalem as capital of Israel.

The resolution is not binding under international law and refore has above all symbolic effect. The text expresses ' deep regret ' about ' recent decisions concerning status of Jerusalem '. Without directly mentioning controversial decision of US President Donald Trump, resolution reaffirms that "any decision or act that alters character, status, or demographic composition of Jerusalem is not legally binding, but null and void ". It also states that final status of city must be negotiated in accordance with relevant UN resolutions.

Netanyahu calls resolution "grotesque" and "absurd"

Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanjahudankte Trump, and American UN Ambassador Nikki Haley for ir "support for Israel and truth." The vote of plenary assembly he called video message on Facebook "grotesque". "But I welcome fact that an increasing number of countries have refused to participate in this absurd atre." The Palestinian leadership, on or hand, welcomed outcome of vote. "The decision confirms once again that just Palestinian cause enjoys support of international community," DerSprecher is quoted by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas from Palestine news agency WAFA. Also Israel's nemesis Iran was pleased with resolution. "That was a clear no to Trump's aggressive intimidation," tweeted Foreign Minister Mohamed Dschawad Sarif.

In spite of large majority, however, number of votes in favour was lower than that advocates hoped. They had counted at least 150 and even up to 180. On Wednesday, Trump warned or countries to vote against US in plenary Assembly vote. He threatened to remove financial donations from se countries. There are many nations that take money from United States and n voted against it.

The Turkish head of state Recep Tayyip Erdoğan accused Trump of wanting to buy votes in United Nations. "The cradle of democracy is looking for sake of world that can be bought with dollars," Erdoğan said. "Mr. Trump, you cannot buy Turkey's democratic will with your dollars."

Shortly before vote, dispute over status of Jerusalem continued to escalate.  Netanyahu had called United Nations a "house of lies" before vote. "Jerusalem is our capital, wher UN recognizes it or not," Netanyahu said. It took 70 years for US to officially recognize this, he said. "And it will take years for UN to acknowledge this as well." Erdoğan, on or hand, demanded that UN should give United States a "nice lesson" with resolution.

United Nations Security Council resolution failed to veto US

United States Ambassador Nikki Haley reiterated plans to move embassy to Jerusalem. No UN vote will change anything about it. It also called for greater respect for United States in return for its "generous contributions" to UN.

On Monday, US vetoed a UN Security Council resolution condemning Trump's Jerusalem decision. This would have been binding under international law. All or 14 council members voted in favour. In UN General Assembly, in which all 193 UN member States are represented, United States does not have a veto.

Trump had officially declared Jerusalem capital of Israel two weeks ago, despite insistent warnings from all over world. The decision triggered fierce protests, especially in Muslim and Arab countries. Violence has repeatedly occurred in Palestinian territories since n. In Germany, too, re were protests against decision, in which Israeli flags were partly burned and anti-Semitic slogans were called.

The international status of Jerusalem is unresolved internationally. Many States and United Nations do not recognize Israeli sovereignty over east of city. The Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as capital of a future Palestinian state, while Israel regards city as an "eternal and undivided capital".

Date Of Update: 22 December 2017, 12:02