US isolated at UN on Jerusalem move

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The United States stood alone Friday as one after another fellow UN Security Council member criticized US President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

The debate unfolded at a largely symbolic emergency meeting of the council in New York – no vote on a resolution was planned, as the US has veto power.

Washington has drawn near universal condemnation, including from United Nations chief Antonio Guterres.

China is urging all relevant parties to avoid actions which may escalate tensions on the Palestinian issue, Wu Haitao, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN said during the meeting.

He added that any unilateral actions to change the status quo of Jerusalem will shock the long-term basis of political settlement on the matter.

Wu also stressed China's stance and proposals, and support to the establishment of an independent, fully sovereign Palestinian state along the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Five European countries including France, Germany, Sweden, Italy and the UK on the council insisted the new US policy was not consistent with past UN resolutions, including one that considers east Jerusalem to be Israeli-occupied.

The United Nations Security Council begins a meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestine, at the UN Headquarters in New York, US, December 8, 2017. /Reuters Photo‍

The British ambassador to the UN, Matthew Rycroft, said flat out that Britain disagrees with Trump’s move on Jerusalem and the embassy location.

"These decisions are unhelpful for the prospects for peace in the region," Rycroft said.

But the US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, said that in his reversal of US foreign policy, Trump was simply recognizing reality, since the Israeli government and parliament are located in Jerusalem.

And she recalled that Trump insists his decision has no impact on whatever Israelis and Palestinians ultimately decide on boundaries and borders of the city, which is holy to Muslims, Christians and Jews.

"Let me again assure you, the president and this administration remain committed to the peace process," she said.

US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley speaks with the British Ambassador to the UN Matthew Rycroft before the start of a UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including Palestine, at the UN Headquarters in New York, US, December 8, 2017. /Reuters Photo

“I understand the concerns that members have in calling this session,” Haley added. “Change is hard.”

The UN coordinator for the Middle East peace process, Nikolay Mladenov, warned that the US decision could lead to a spiral of violence among the Palestinians and others angered by what Trump has done.

Indeed, clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces Friday left one person dead after calls for a “day of rage” from the Islamist movement Hamas.

The meeting was convened by no fewer than eight of the 14 non-US members of the council.

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Source(s): AFP