Countries are lining up to repudiate the United States after President Donald Trump threatened to cut aid to nations that refused to support his decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Thursday saw the United Nations sending a resounding message after 128 member countries voted to uphold a resolution stating Jerusalem’s status can only be settled as an agreed final issue in a peace deal.
Including the United States and Israel, Togo, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Marshall Islands, Guatemala, and Honduras voted against the resolution.
Even countries receiving US aid, like Egypt, Iraq, and Afghanistan supported it, as did 22 of the 28 European Union nations, including Germany, which has typically abstained from prior Israel-related measures.
Thirty-five abstained, including Australia, Canada, Colombia, and Mexico.
21 delegations were absent.
Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, described the outcome a “victory for Palestine.”
In addition to Palestinian UN envoy, Riyad Mansour, describing the result as a “massive setback” for the US, he added:
“They made it about them. They did not make it about Jerusalem, so when you make it about them and to only be able to get nine votes to say ‘no’ to it, I think it was a complete failure for their campaign.”
Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, rejecting the vote, said:
“Israel thanks President Trump for his unequivocal position in favour of Jerusalem and thanks the countries that voted together with Israel, together with the truth.”
Before the vote, US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, rebuked those who opposed the United States:
“When we make generous contributions to the UN, we also have expectation that we will be respected. What’s more, we are being asked to pay for the dubious privileges of being disrespected. If our investment fails, we have an obligation to spend our investment in other ways. The United States will remember this day.”
Earlier in the week, Haley threatened the US “would be “taking names,” echoing sentiments Trump uttered when he said:
“Let them vote against us. We’ll save a lot. We don’t care. But this isn’t like it used to be where they could vote against you and then you pay them hundreds of millions of dollars. We’re not going to be taken advantage of any longer.”
At a joint news briefing in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron, Mahmoud Abbas asserted the United States has “disqualified” itself from the Middle East peace process, adding:
“The United States are [sic] no longer an honest mediator in the peace process. We will not accept any plan put forward by the United States.”
Macron reaffirmed his commitment to a two-state solution.
He stated France would recognize a Palestinian state “at the right time,” not under pressure.
In a single day, Trump transformed the United States into a manipulative bully–just like him.
Image credit: cufi.org.uk
