The U.S. has vetoed a United Nations resolution that would have required the United States to rescind its declaration of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, a move aimed at showing the depth of global opposition to President Donald Trump’s action.
The draft resolution demanded that all countries comply with 10 resolutions on Jerusalem dating back to 1967, including requirements that the city’s final status be decided in direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
The draft resolution 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status or demographic composition of the holy city of Jerusalem have no legal effect, are null and void and must be rescinded.”
Trump shattered decades of unwavering U.S. neutrality on Jerusalem on Dec. 6 when he declared that the United States recognizes the divided holy city as Israel’s capital and will move its embassy there. Trump insisted that after repeated peace failures it was past time for a new approach, saying his decision was merely based on reality.
The status of Jerusalem has been a central issue in the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Trump’s announcement triggered denunciations and demonstrations around the world. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah movement and other groups organized mass protests while its rival, the Gaza-based Islamic militant group Hamas, has called for a third violent uprising against Israel.
Trump has been working on a new Mideast peace plan and says he remains committed to brokering a deal, despite the Jerusalem move.
However, Abbas said after the announcement that the U.S. has effectively removed itself from any role as a Mideast broker, and those close to him say it’s time to look for alternatives.
The draft resolution, without naming any country, expressed “deep regret at recent decisions concerning the status of Jerusalem.”
It also called upon all states “to refrain from the establishment of diplomatic missions in the holy city of Jerusalem,” citing a 1980 council resolution.
U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley told the council at its monthly briefing on the Mideast political situation Monday ahead of the vote that a sovereign nation has “every right” to decide where to put its embassy.
