35 abstentions and only nine votes against. Washington isolated by Arab and Western allies.
New York (AsiaNews / Agencies) - US threats to "take the names" of those who voted in favour of the resolution opposing Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel have not had the desired effect: 128 countries supported the resolution proposed by Yemen at the UN General Assembly, 35 abstained and only nine voted against.
US President Donald Trump had threatened to cut economic aid to those who voted in favor. Even with a higher number of abstainers than usual for the General Assembly resolutions on the Israeli-Palestinian question, the vote showed a Washington isolated by its Western and Arab allies. Some of them, such as Egypt, Jordan and Iraq, are among the major beneficiaries of US economic and military aid.
According to Reuters, in response the US would invited the 64 countries that voted against, abstained or did not vote to a reception on January 3, as a thank you for their "friendship with the United States". The nations that abstained include: Argentina, Australia, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Mexico, Philippines, Poland. Instead, together with the United States and Israel Guatemala, Honduras, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau and Togo voted against.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu called the resolution "absurd", reiterating that Jerusalem is, "has always been and will always be", the capital of Israel.
For his part, the president of the Palestinian National Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, applauded the resolution and reiterated the intention of the Palestinians to commit themselves to the United Nations to obtain a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as capital.
On December 18, the Security Council voted for a similar resolution, supported by 14 out of 15 states, but blocked by the US, which as a permanent member has the right of veto.