The United Nations General Assembly voted Thursday to condemn President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and move the U.S. Embassy to the new capital.
The assembly voted with 128 members in favor, nine against and 35 countries abstaining.
Israel, itself, voted no to the assembly’s condemnation of the U.S.
U.S. allies Canada, Australia, Argentina and Mexico were among those countries that abstained from voting.
U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley warned the United Nations that the U.S. would “remember” the countries that voted for the measure.
“The United States is by far the single largest contributor to the United Nations,” she said, adding that “our participation in the U.N. produces great good for the world.”
“We do this because it represents who we are… when we make generous contributions to the U.N. we also have a legitimate expectation that our goodwill is recognized,” she said. “If our investment fails, we have an obligation to spend our resources in more productive ways.”
The vote will not change Trump’s decision, but Haley said that the vote would “make a difference on how Americans look on the U.N.”
“At the UN we’re always asked to do more & give more,” she said on her Twitter before the vote. “So, when we make a decision, at the will of the American ppl, abt where to locate OUR embassy, we don’t expect those we’ve helped to target us. On Thurs there’ll be a vote criticizing our choice. The US will be taking names.”
Photo courtesy: ©Thinkstockrrodrickbeiler
Publication date: December 22, 2017
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