UN General Assembly Unanimously Calls on US to Revoke al-Quds Decision

WASHINGTON- The United Nations General Assembly has unanimously voted in favor of a resolution that calls on the US to withdraw its controversial recognition of al-Quds as Israeli “capital.”

The UN General Assembly passed the resolution by a vote of 128 to 9 with 35 countries abstaining.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif took to Twitter, hailing the vote as a “resounding” negative reply to US President Donald Trump’s “intimidation” in reference to his threat of reprisals against countries that support the measure.

Before the vote was held at the General Assembly, Trump had warned that “we’re watching,” threatening reprisals against countries that back the al-Quds resolution.

A spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also welcomed the Thursday development.

“The vote is a victory for Palestine,” said Nabil Abu Rdainah, who added, “We will continue our efforts in the United Nations and at all international forums to put an end to this occupation and to establish our Palestinian state with east al-Quds as its capital.”

“This decision reaffirms once again that the just Palestinian cause enjoys the support of international law, and no decision by any party can change the reality,” the Palestinian president’s spokesman noted.

Ahead of the voting, US Ambassador Nikki Haley took the podium warning that “the United States will remember this day.”

“America will put our embassy in Jerusalem,” Haley said, adding, “No vote in the United Nations will make any difference on that. But this vote will make a difference on how Americans look at the UN and on how we look at countries who disrespect us in the UN.”

 H.M