Palestinians bringing anti-US measure to UN General Assembly

After failing to condemn the US over Trump’s Jerusalem declaration at the UN Security Council, the Palestinians will try again at the General Assembly.

By: JNS.org and World Israel News Staff

Following Monday’s US veto of a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution that called for the withdrawal of President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, the Palestinians will initiate a vote on the same measure at the UN General Assembly on Thursday.

This was the first time in six years that the US has used its veto power in the Security Council.

Since the Palestinian Authority (PA) is a non-member observer state at the world body rather than a full UN member, a bloc of countries led by Turkey and Bolivia will submit the resolution on behalf of the Palestinians.

The measure is expected to pass due to the Arab and Muslim majority in the General Assembly, but it would merely be a symbolic move with no practical implications for Israel or the US.

“We are moving within 48 hours…to call for an emergency meeting of the General Assembly,” PA Foreign Minister Riad al-Malki told reporters in Ramallah after the US veto of the Security Council resolution.

US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley called the Security Council measure “an insult.”

“The fact that this veto is being done in defense of America’s role in the Middle East peace process is not a source of embarrassment for us; it should be an embarrassment to the remainder of the Security Council,” she said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Trump and Haley for vetoing the UN resolution. On Chanukah, Haley “spoke like a Maccabee,” he said.

“You lit a candle of truth. You dispel the darkness. One defeated the many. Truth defeated lies. Thank you, President Trump. Thank you, Nikki Haley,” Netanyahu stated.