by Reuters and Israel Hayom Staff
Ahead of special U.N. vote criticizing U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, U.S. ambassador to U.N. says, "We don't expect those we've helped to target us"
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on Jerusalem's status at U.N. headquarters in New York, Monday
Photo: AP
U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley has warned that President Donald Trump will be carefully watching a special U.N. General Assembly vote Thursday on a nonbinding resolution criticizing his decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
In a letter received by a U.N. ambassador and shared with Bloomberg News on Wednesday, Haley warned that "the president will be watching this vote carefully and has requested I report back on those countries who voted against us. We will take note of each and every vote on this issue."
Video: Reuters
Haley, who has adopted an aggressive stance at the world body on U.S. priorities, said "the U.S. will be taking names" in the pending U.N. vote "criticizing our choice."
Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon on Monday called the U.N. vote a "waste of time," saying "the only way to move forward is by direct negotiations."
The United States on Monday vetoed a one-page resolution drafted by Egypt and supported by the 14 other U.N. Security Council members, including U.S. allies Britain, France and Japan, calling on Trump to rescind his declaration of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, a vote that showed the depth of global opposition to the U.S. move.
Moments before Monday's vote, Danon said that those who would vote in favor were "displaying a ridiculous double standard," as every U.N. member state designates its own capital.
"Every other country in the world, every other U.N. member state, designates its capital city. Only when it comes to Israel, this most basic national right is questioned and condemned," Danon said. "It is important to remember that Jerusalem under sovereign Israel is more free and more open to people of all religions than at any other time in history. We pledge that we will continue to be that way."
Danon accused the Palestinians of sabotaging potential peace efforts.
"We are troubled by the disturbing trend displayed by the Palestinians. Every time the prospects for meaningful negotiation emerge, the Palestinians try to sabotage these efforts. The American administration is now working tirelessly to revive negotiations, but the Palestinians have once again responded with violence and rockets fired at our civilians. Let me be clear, when it comes to Jerusalem we will not be intimidated by violence and incitement," he said.
"As you know we're in the middle of celebrating the holiday of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights. We welcome the good wishes we have received from all over the world. But some who wish us Happy Hanukkah have individuals and leaders who question our very presence in Jerusalem. That is why today is a perfect opportunity to remind everyone why we celebrate Hanukkah. We celebrate because more than 2,000 years ago after the Hellenists tried to destroy our Temple, the Jewish Maccabees succeeded in liberating Jerusalem. Hanukkah is a celebration of the return of Jewish sovereignty to our capital Jerusalem. Now, just as we did then, we will stand strong in the face of anyone who tries to cut us off from our eternal capital."
Danon said no amount of votes on the issue would change the fact that "Jerusalem is, has been and always will be the eternal capital of Israel."
He praised "the courageous stance taken by President Trump in recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital" and said Israel was grateful to the United States for its "strong and moral" stance in vetoing the resolution.
Reuters and Israel Hayom Staff
Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/2017/12/20/us-envoy-to-un-we-will-be-taking-names-at-general-assembly-vote/
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