Defying Trump, over 120 countries at U.N. condemn Jerusalem decision

[webfact]

Defying Trump, over 120 countries at U.N. condemn Jerusalem decision

By Michelle Nichols

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley vetos an Egyptian-drafted resolution regarding recent decisions concerning the status of Jerusalem, during the United Nations Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including Palestine, at U.N. Headquarters in New York City, New York, U.S., December 18, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

 

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - More than 120 countries defied President Donald Trump on Thursday and voted in favour of a United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for the United States to drop its recent recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

 

Trump had threatened to cut off financial aid to countries that voted in favour. A total of 128 countries backed the resolution, which is non-binding, nine voted against and 35 abstained. Twenty-one countries did not cast a vote.

 

Trump's threat appeared to have some impact, with more countries abstaining and rejecting the resolution than usually associated with Palestinian-related resolutions.

 

Nevertheless, Washington found itself isolated as many of its Western and Arab allies voted for the measure. Some of those allies, like Egypt, Jordan and Iraq, are major recipients of U.S. military or economic aid, although the U.S. threat to cut aid did not single out any country.

 

A spokesman for Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called the vote "a victory for Palestine." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the vote.

 

Earlier this month, Trump reversed decades of U.S. policy by announcing the United States recognised Jerusalem - home to major Muslim, Jewish and Christian holy sites - as the capital of Israel and would move its embassy there.

 

"The United States will remember this day in which it was singled out for attack in the General Assembly for the very act of exercising our right as a sovereign nation," U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley told the 193-member General Assembly ahead of Thursday's vote.

 

"We will remember it when we are called upon to once again make the world's largest contribution to the United Nations, and so many countries come calling on us, as they so often do, to pay even more and to use our influence for their benefit," she said.

 

Later on Thursday, Haley asked the 64 countries who voted no, abstained or did not cast a vote to come to a Jan. 3 reception "to thank you for your friendship to the United States," according to the invitation seen by Reuters.

 

The status of Jerusalem is one of the thorniest obstacles to a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians, who were furious over Trump’s move. The international community does not recognise Israeli sovereignty over the full city.

 

French U.N. Ambassador Francois Delattre said in a statement: "The resolution adopted today only confirms relevant international law provisions on Jerusalem." France voted in favour.

 

'PREPOSTEROUS'

 

Netanyahu described the resolution as "preposterous." "Jerusalem is our capital, always was, always will be. But I do appreciate the fact that a growing number of countries refuse to participate in this theatre of the absurd," he said in a video on his Facebook page.

 

Israel captured East Jerusalem in a 1967 war and Palestinians want it as the capital of a future state they seek.

 

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a tweet the vote was a clear international rejection of the Trump administration's "thuggish intimidation."

 

Among countries that abstained were Argentina, Australia, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Mexico, Philippines, Poland, Rwanda, South Sudan and Uganda.

 

Guatemala, Honduras, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau and Togo joined the United States and Israel in voting no.

 

Honduras’ vote against the motion comes after the United States signalled it would recognise President Juan Orlando Hernandez as the winner of an election the Organization of America States said should be scrapped over fraud claims.

 

Since Trump’s election, Mexico has aligned its foreign policy more closely with Washington in what diplomats say is an attempt to curry favour in face of threats to withdraw from the NAFTA free trade agreement.

 

Trump's rhetoric on cutting aid startled some U.S. allies but State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said Thursday's vote was just one factor that Washington would take into consideration in its foreign policy.

 

"I just wanted to reiterate what the president had said yesterday and that that was the U.N. vote is really not the only factor that the administration would take into consideration in dealing with our foreign relations and countries who have chosen to vote one way or the other," she told reporters.

 

According to figures from the U.S. government's aid agency USAID, in 2016 the United States provided some $13 billion in economic and military assistance to countries in sub-Saharan Africa and $1.6 billion to states in East Asia and Oceania.

 

It provided some $13 billion to countries in the Middle East and North Africa, $6.7 billion to countries in South and Central Asia, $1.5 billion to states in Europe and Eurasia and $2.2 billion to Western Hemisphere countries, according to USAID.

 

The General Assembly vote was called at the request of Arab and Muslim countries after the United States vetoed the same resolution on Monday in the 15-member U.N. Security Council.

 

The remaining 14 Security Council members voted in favour of the Egyptian-drafted resolution, which did not specifically mention the United States or Trump but which expressed "deep regret at recent decisions concerning the status of Jerusalem."

 

Thursday's resolution "affirms 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 and must be rescinded."

 

The U.N. action comes a year after the Security Council adopted a resolution demanding an end to Israeli settlements.

 

That was approved with 14 votes in favour and an abstention by former U.S. President Barack Obama's administration, which defied heavy pressure from longtime ally Israel and Trump, who was then president-elect, for Washington to wield its veto.

 

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols at the United Nations; Additional reporting by Jeffrey Heller and Ari Rabinovitch in Jerusalem, Parisa Hafezi in Ankara, Leah Schnurr in Ottawa and Frank Jack Daniel in Mexico; Writing by Yara Bayoumy; Editing by Alistair Bell and James Dalgleish)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-12-22

[Samui Bodoh]

What did anyone expect?

 

It was a foolish decision in the first place to move the embassy; some pots don't need to be stirred.

 

It is rarely a bad policy in a country to be seen to be standing up to the US.

 

It demonstrates the idiocy of Trump's foreign policy; the US is now more isolated than at any other time in my life.

 

I have said it before and (sadly) need to say it again;

 

Donald Trump is an ever-expanding cloud of toxic waste that defiles everything it touches.

 

God help us all...

[ilostmypassword]

Four out of the five biggest recipients of US foreign aid - Afghanistan, Iraq, Jordan, and Egypt - voted in favor of the resolution. Clearly, respect for the USA has never been higher!

[dcutman]

46 minutes ago, webfact said:

Netanyahu described the resolution as "preposterous." "Jerusalem is our capital, always was, always will be.

OK, there you have it.

It does not matter what any other country has to say about this fact.

Those that want to deny, are delusional.

[the guest]

The UN decision was just symbolic, nothing else. The facts remain, the US will do whatever they want.Therefore the UN really has no value anymore.

Edited December 22, 2017 by the guest

[sanemax]

44 minutes ago, Samui Bodoh said:

 

It demonstrates the idiocy of Trump's foreign policy; the US is now more isolated than at any other time in my life.

This was just one vote on one issue , votes on various issues happen all the time .

This vote doesnt mean that the USA is "isolated" in general terms , it just means that other Countries do not agree with them on this issue

[Langsuan Man]

45 minutes ago, ilostmypassword said:

Four out of the five biggest recipients of US foreign aid - Afghanistan, Iraq, Jordan, and Egypt - voted in favor of the resolution. Clearly, respect for the USA has never been higher!

Clearly,  Trump's threat to cut off aid to those who voted against the US position really didn't scare anyone 

[hansnl]

1 hour ago, Samui Bodoh said:

What did anyone expect?

 

It was a foolish decision in the first place to move the embassy; some pots don't need to be stirred.

 

It is rarely a bad policy in a country to be seen to be standing up to the US.

 

It demonstrates the idiocy of Trump's foreign policy; the US is now more isolated than at any other time in my life.

 

I have said it before and (sadly) need to say it again;

 

Donald Trump is an ever-expanding cloud of toxic waste that defiles everything it touches.

 

God help us all...

If you are able to switch off your selective memory, maybe you will see that the former president left office and the world a much more, very much more, unsafe place.

What he and his followers did to the US internally might be enough for the end of the US.

Obama was highly dangerous for the world and the US.

[ilostmypassword]

4 minutes ago, hansnl said:

If you are able to switch off your selective memory, maybe you will see that the former president left office and the world a much more, very much more, unsafe place.

What he and his followers did to the US internally might be enough for the end of the US.

Obama was highly dangerous for the world and the US.

Love the data you cited. Keep it coming!

[newatthis]

" The United States will remember this day in which it was singled out for attack in the General Assembly for the very act of exercising our right as a sovereign nation," U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley told the 193-member General Assembly ahead of Thursday's vote. "

And every other sovereign nation has a right to vote as they wish or does the USA really believe the world revolves around it.

[car720]

26 minutes ago, hansnl said:

If you are able to switch off your selective memory, maybe you will see that the former president left office and the world a much more, very much more, unsafe place.

What he and his followers did to the US internally might be enough for the end of the US.

Obama was highly dangerous for the world and the US.

Perhaps so.  I know little of US internal politics but at least he was perceived as being sane.  This guy definitely does not.

[car720]

15 minutes ago, newatthis said:

" The United States will remember this day in which it was singled out for attack in the General Assembly for the very act of exercising our right as a sovereign nation," U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley told the 193-member General Assembly ahead of Thursday's vote. "

And every other sovereign nation has a right to vote as they wish or does the USA really believe the world revolves around it.

Perfect.  The next time some hairy leg talks to me about glass ceilings I am going to refer them the the balls on this one. 

[Coconutman]

Good.. i hope america pulls out of the un.

[Emster23]

There you have it: Trump creating problems for no particular good reason. Hey Donald, what concession did you get for this? About the same level of "art of the deal" you got for pulling out of TPP?

[ravip]

2 hours ago, the guest said:

The UN decision was just symbolic, nothing else. The facts remain, the US will do whatever they want.Therefore the UN really has no value anymore.

Therefore the UN really has no value anymore.

This had been pretty obvious for a long time! The 'aristocrats' working for the UN is still partying at the expense of the small and weak nations.

UN indeed!!!

[ravip]

What does it mean by saying  'taking names' ? 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/12/20/bullying-us-warns-un-diplomats-will-taking-names-vote-against/

 

[Langsuan Man]

26 minutes ago, ravip said:

What does it mean by saying  'taking names' ?

Same thing that Santa does, a list,  to remember whether you have been naughty or nice 

[Sir Swagman]

I just love the way DT claimed that the announcement and move of the embassy was 'what the people of America want' - therefore it had to be done??? What about over 70% of 'the people' not wanting the new tax 'reform' you and your sticky-fingered bunch of cronies voted in? 

[thaibeachlovers]

3 hours ago, the guest said:

The UN decision was just symbolic, nothing else. The facts remain, the US will do whatever they want.Therefore the UN really has no value anymore.

The UN is a waste of space and money as long as veto power is held by a few countries. If the US pulled out it would be a good thing, IMO. The few UN institutions that actually do good could be funded separately.

Good job that this folly of moving the US embassy to the illegally occupied city of Jerusalem has attracted such opposition that even Australia abstained, though I wouldn't expect it to vote against the US.

Edited December 22, 2017 by thaibeachlovers

[riclag]

1 hour ago, Coconutman said:

Good.. i hope america pulls out of the un.

Dismantle and send the UN building to the UK  or Iran.

 

Edited December 22, 2017 by riclag

[greatwhitenorth]

3 minutes ago, riclag said:

Dismantle and send the UN building to the UK  or Iran.

 

I guess to Americans there is not much difference between the two countries,  I mean they are both foreign.  

 

I wonder why America finds it has so few friends anymore  is it the bullying? is it the ignorance of anything not American?

my country gutlessly abstained as not to offend USA

Edited December 22, 2017 by greatwhitenorth

[Jonnapat]

3 hours ago, sanemax said:

This was just one vote on one issue , votes on various issues happen all the time .

This vote doesnt mean that the USA is "isolated" in general terms , it just means that other Countries do not agree with them on this issue

It means that all the respect gained by Obama's presidency is quickly being eroded by this ego-maniac.

[riclag]

23 minutes ago, Sir Swagman said:

I just love the way DT claimed that the announcement and move of the embassy was 'what the people of America want' - therefore it had to be done??? What about over 70% of 'the people' not wanting the new tax 'reform' you and your sticky-fingered bunch of cronies voted in? 

70% of the people polled, didn't want to take their own money back ,lol.

Are these the same pollsters that predicted the election on Nov 8,2016?

Google "How many people were against the tax bill". Many different results.

[Morch]

3 hours ago, the guest said:

The UN decision was just symbolic, nothing else. The facts remain, the US will do whatever they want.Therefore the UN really has no value anymore.

 

Would you rather have the UN resolution being binding and representing an actual might to enforce them? Along the lines of World Government and a UN army. How would that work, then?

[thaibeachlovers]

14 minutes ago, riclag said:

Dismantle and send the UN building to the UK  or Iran.

 

Nah. Give it to the EU. They have a fondness for bureaucrats that perform no useful function.

[Morch]

2 hours ago, Langsuan Man said:

Clearly,  Trump's threat to cut off aid to those who voted against the US position really didn't scare anyone 

 

Most governments and their diplomatic representatives are able to differentiate between hyperbole statements and the actual chances things will be carried out. Doubt that the US will massively cut aid in most relevant cases - that would essentially mean pulling the plug on US leverage and military presence in some key locations. Also, as quite a bit of the aid in question is given in the form of funds to buy Made in the USA stuff and services, cancelling it would mean loss of monies and jobs to American firms. Trump may or may not be aware of the implications his nonsense statements carry, that doesn't mean all parties involved are daft.

[Guest]

The voting map

Red - with USA/Israel

Green - against USA/Israel

Grey - abstain voting

 

[dexterm]

128-9 voting his move "null and void". This is the "reality" that Trump should be focusing on.

Israel, Togo, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Marshall Islands, Guatemala and Honduras are right behind you, Donald.

 

So the US managed to buy a few abstentions and absences with their blood money. 
10 Palestinians killed and hundreds injured so far in protests against Trump's totally unnecessary announcement of supposedly no change in US policy. 

Well done UK and France for sticking to your principles. I am disgusted with the cowardice of Canada and Australia for selling out.

 

"The United States will remember this day in which it was singled out for attack in the General Assembly," US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley.

 

You were singled out because you singled yourself out: the only country in the world to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital contrary to all international law, needlessly, if you are to be believed, because ostensibly you tell the world it means no change in US foreign policy.

If you want to play ego and domestic politics with millions of people's lives just to please wealthy Zionists such as casino owner Sheldon Adleson who has apparently been pestering Trump for months, the fanatical right wing Zionists of AIPAC and doomsday anti Semitic Evangelical Christians, you deserve to be told exactly what the world thinks of your reckless stupidity and Israel's 50 year illegal occupation.

 

The whole exercise was futile:  Trump's announcement supposedly heralding no change in final status, his decision voted "null and void" by the world community (but they told him that before he opened his mouth), peace talks stalled and US disqualifying itself as an honest broker, lives lost, US standing in the world diminished, and more American lives put at risk 
“I paid a military price everyday as commander of CentCom, because the Americans were seen as biased in support of Israel.” Gen. James Mattis, now Trump’s Defence Secretary.
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/israeli-palestinian-conflict-six-day-war-anniversary-resolution-gazit-netanyahu-a7771211.html

 

Trump says he is supposedly advancing the cause of peace. What a shemozzle. Trump wins a few domestic votes...probably lost as many. Haley now diplomatically isolated and looking inexperienced with her twitter blackmail outbursts, having undone any relationship building she might have achieved.

Yes world diplomats will certainly be taking names.

Edited December 22, 2017 by dexterm

[riclag]

11 minutes ago, greatwhitenorth said:

I guess to Americans there is not much difference between the two countries,  I mean they are both foreign.  

 

I wonder why America finds it has so few friends anymore  is it the bullying? is it the ignorance of anything not American?

my country gutlessly abstained as not to offend USA

PT inherited a global mess. All these years we gave gave gave and this is how nations respond.Every President since Carter with the exception of Obama wanted to do this but didn't want to upset everyone . Now PT comes in with a roar instead of apologizing  for our past policies in the middle east. Israel has been America's wing-man since the beginning of the state .

  https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/middle-east/obama-and-middle-east

[dexterm]

6 minutes ago, riclag said:

PT inherited a global mess. All these years we gave gave gave and this is how nations respond.Every President since Carter with the exception of Obama wanted to do this but didn't want to upset everyone . Now PT comes in with a roar instead of apologizing  for our past policies in the middle east. Israel has been America's wing-man since the beginning of the state .

  https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/middle-east/obama-and-middle-east

>>Now PT comes in with a roar

...Sounds more like a whimper to me.

Israel, Togo, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Marshall Islands, Guatemala and Honduras stood shoulder to shoulder with Donald.