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| •UN General Assembly during a session |
The 193-member United Nations General Assembly
will hold a rare emergency special session on Thursday at the request of
Arab and Muslim states on U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to
recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
will hold a rare emergency special session on Thursday at the request of
Arab and Muslim states on U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to
recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Palestinian U.N. envoy Riyad Mansour said the General Assembly would
vote on a draft resolution calling for Trump’s declaration to be
withdrawn, which was vetoed by the United States in the 15-member U.N.
Security Council on Monday.
vote on a draft resolution calling for Trump’s declaration to be
withdrawn, which was vetoed by the United States in the 15-member U.N.
Security Council on Monday.
The remaining 14 Security Council members voted in favor 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.”
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.”
Mansour said on Monday he hoped there would be “overwhelming support”
in the General Assembly for the resolution. Such a vote is non-binding,
but carries political weight.
in the General Assembly for the resolution. Such a vote is non-binding,
but carries political weight.
U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley, in a note on Twitter, warned the United
States would remember those who voted for the resolution criticising the
U.S. decision.
States would remember those who voted for the resolution criticising the
U.S. decision.
“At the UN we’re always asked to do more & give more. 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.
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,”
she wrote.
there’ll be a vote criticizing our choice. The US will be taking names,”
she wrote.
Under a 1950 resolution, an emergency special session can be called
for the General Assembly to consider a matter “with a view to making
appropriate recommendations to members for collective measures” if the
Security Council fails to act.
for the General Assembly to consider a matter “with a view to making
appropriate recommendations to members for collective measures” if the
Security Council fails to act.
Only 10 such sessions have been convened, and the last time the
General Assembly met in such a session was in 2009 on occupied East
Jerusalem and Palestinian territories. Thursday’s meeting will be a
resumption of that session.
General Assembly met in such a session was in 2009 on occupied East
Jerusalem and Palestinian territories. Thursday’s meeting will be a
resumption of that session.
Trump abruptly reversed decades of U.S. policy this month when he
recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, generating outrage from
Palestinians and the Arab world and concern among Washington’s western
allies.
recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, generating outrage from
Palestinians and the Arab world and concern among Washington’s western
allies.
Trump also plans to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv.
The draft U.N. resolution calls upon all countries to refrain from
establishing diplomatic missions in Jerusalem.
The draft U.N. resolution calls upon all countries to refrain from
establishing diplomatic missions in Jerusalem.
Haley said on Monday that the resolution was vetoed in the Security
Council in defense of U.S. sovereignty and the U.S. role in the Middle
East peace process. She criticised it as an insult to Washington and an
embarrassment to council members.
Council in defense of U.S. sovereignty and the U.S. role in the Middle
East peace process. She criticised it as an insult to Washington and an
embarrassment to council members.
Israel considers Jerusalem its eternal and indivisible capital and
wants all embassies based there.
wants all embassies based there.
Palestinians want the capital of an
independent Palestinian state to be in the city’s eastern sector, which
Israel captured in a 1967 war and annexed in a move never recognised
internationally. (Reuters)
independent Palestinian state to be in the city’s eastern sector, which
Israel captured in a 1967 war and annexed in a move never recognised
internationally. (Reuters)
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