United States vetoed on Monday UN Security Council resolution condemning its recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and calling on countries not to move diplomatic missions to the city.
The other 14 members of the council voted in favour of the text, but US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley’s “no” vote ensured that it was rejected.
Recalling previous Security Council resolutions, Monday’s text expressed “deep regret at recent decisions concerning the status of Jerusalem,” referring to US President Donald Trump’s December 6 decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
The resolution, sponsored by Egypt, also affirmed that “any decisions and actions which purport to have altered, the character, status or demographic composition of the Holy City of Jerusalem have no legal effect, are null and void.”
It noted that such decisions “must be rescinded in compliance with relevant resolutions of the Security Council, and in this regard, calls upon all States to refrain from the establishment of diplomatic missions in the Holy City of Jerusalem.”
Without naming any country, it would have expressed “deep regret at recent decisions concerning the status of Jerusalem.”
Minutes after the vote, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the veto and thanked Haley for her speech during the UNSC meeting.
Palestinians regretted the veto and said it would bring the resolution to a full vote in the UN General Assembly, probably later this week.
This would get an automatic majority, but in contrast to the Security Council, a General Assembly vote is non-binding.
Shortlink for this post: https://daysofpalestine.ps/?p=3561
