The UN General Assembly voted 128-9 with 35 abstentions on Thursday in favor of a nonbinding resolution declaring President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital “null and void,” a smaller margin than the Palestinians hoped for but also a rebuke to the Trump administration which is threatening to cut funding for those who voted “yes.”
The vote was a victory for the Palestinians though many of their supporters were predicting at least 150 “yes” votes or more.
It should be noted Armenia voted for the resolution.
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The resolution approved Thursday was co-sponsored by Turkey, chair of the summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and Yemen, chair of the Arab Group at the U.N.
It is very similar to the defeated Security Council resolution.
The resolution says Jerusalem “is a final status issue” and reaffirms 10 Security Council resolutions on Jerusalem, dating back to 1967, including requirements that the city’s final status must be decided in direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
It “affirms 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status or demographic composition of the holy city of Jerusalem have no legal effect, are null and void and must be rescinded.”
The resolution “demands that all states comply with Security Council resolutions regarding the holy city of Jerusalem, and not to recognize any actions or measures contrary to those resolutions.”
