‘No vote will change reality,’ says Israeli envoy ahead of UN vote on Trump’s Jerusalem declaration

“No vote or debate will change the clear reality that Jerusalem has and always will be the capital of Israel,” Danon said of pending UN vote on Jerusalem. 

By: Aryeh Savir, World Israel News

Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon on Saturday strongly condemned a draft for a UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution calling for the reversal of President Donald Trump’s declaration that the US recognizes Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

The resolution, drafted by Egypt and circulated at the UNSC, “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status or demographic composition of the Holy City of Jerusalem have no legal effect, are null and void and must be rescinded in compliance with relevant resolutions of the Security Council.”

The resolution requires at least nine votes to pass, and could be voted on as early as Monday or Tuesday. However, the US is one of five permanent members of the 15-member UNSC and therefore can veto any such resolution.

“As Jews around the world are celebrating Chanukah, the liberation of Jerusalem 2,000 ago, the Palestinians continue to try to reinvent history,” Danon charged.

“No vote or debate will change the clear reality that Jerusalem has and always will be the capital of Israel. Together with our allies, we will continue to fight, once again, for historical truth,” he stated.

The news of the resolution comes as senior Trump administration officials outlined their view Friday that Jerusalem’s Western Wall ultimately will be declared a part of Israel.

A senior US official, speaking ahead of Vice President Mike Pence’s trip to the region this week, said that “we cannot envision any situation under which the Western Wall would not be part of Israel. But as the president said, the specific boundaries of sovereignty of Israel are going to be part of the final status agreement.” Another official later added in an email, “We note that we cannot imagine Israel would sign a peace agreement that didn’t include the Western Wall.”

Pence plans to visit the Western Wall next week. The administration officials said he would be accompanied by a rabbi to preserve the spiritual nature of his planned visit to the holy site. The officials said Pence’s Wednesday visit would be conducted in a similar manner to when President Donald Trump visited in May.