US Vetoes UN Draft Resolution on Jerusalem Against 14 Supporters

US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley speaks after she voted against the vote on a draft resolution that would reject US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel-getty iamage.

New York, MINA – Fourteen UN Security Council members voted for an Egyptian draft UN resolution rejecting America’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, but the US vetoed it.

Despite the US veto, the outcome reflected an overwhelming international rejection to any unilateral decisions over Jerusalem, Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.

The draft UN resolution, which did not mention the US President by name, stated that Jerusalem status should be addressed through negotiations, and expressed deep regret over the recent decisions over Jerusalem.

US President Donald Trump announced earlier this month recogntion of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and that he would be moving the American embassy from Tel Aviv to the occupied city.

The draft resolution said any measures or decisions aimed at changing the identity of Jerusalem or its demographic structure would not be legal.

It called on all countries to refrain from moving embassies in Jerusalem in line with UN resolution 478 of 1980.

Earlier during the session, UN special envoy to the Middle East Nikolay Mladenov said issue of Jerusalem should be solved through direct negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians.

He said the UN considered Jerusalem one of the final status issues to be solved via direct negotiations.

Mladenov said the situation in the Middle East became more tense following Trump’s announcement. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)