In a rare emergency session on Thursday, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) passed a rare resolution moved by Turkey and Yemen, and co-sponsored by Pakistan, against the US decision to recognize Jerusalem, the city that goes to the heart of Palestinian-Israeli conflict, as the capital of Israel. An overwhelming majority, 128 nations, voted in favour, only nine against the resolution that says - without naming the US - "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status or demographic composition of the Holy City of Jerusalem have no legal effect, are null and void and must be rescinded in compliance with relevant resolutions of the Security Council."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 US' major allies including Britain, France, Germany and Japan that only a few days ago had supported a similar resolution in the UNSC, once again, voted in its favour. Twenty-two EU members, including Germany, also went along. The nine that voted against, aside from the US and Israel, unsurprisingly, include the Marshal Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau and Togo which are dependent on US assistance and get noticed more for pro-Israel voting at the UN than anything else.
As Pakistan's representative to the UN Dr Maliha Lodhi pointed out in her speech, US' decision was a clear violation of the international law, and contrary to Security Council and General Assembly's resolutions. Israel has no claim, except a 3000 years old one, over Jerusalem that it occupied through an act of war in 1967. Morality, nonetheless, matters little in policies big powers pursue, only interests do. In this instance, conscious of the repercussions of President Trump's decision, US' allies in the Middle East and Europe had advised him not to disturb the status quo until the 'final status talks' determine the future of Jerusalem that the Palestinians want as the capital of their state. The issue has deep resonance not only in Arab countries, but all over the Muslim world. Following Trump's announcement instantaneous protests erupted in Muslim countries. It is also likely to escalate extremist violence.
In taking the decision, Trump has demonstrated he does not know how the world works. Before the vote, he had threatened to stop aid to the nations opposing his declaration. His UN representative, Nicky Haley, told the UNGA since her country made generous contributions to the UN "we have an obligation to demand more for our investment, and if our investment fails, we have an obligation to spend our resources in more productive ways." The argument is not only full of arrogance, it shows the Trump administration has no respect for the world body, international law, or individual countries right to make independent decisions. He has threatened the UN of withholding funds at a time China is showing an increasing interest in taking over that responsibility. As for the countries threatened, Trump apparently had Egypt in mind when he said "let them vote against us, we'll save a lot." Egypt has been the second biggest recipient of the US aid since the Jimmy Carter-brokered Camp David Accord signed in 1979. That it gets for keeping the separate peace deal with Israel and also watching its back. The vote it gave due to domestic compulsions. Trump may blow hot and cold over it, but he is not expected to cut $1.3 billion annual aid that US gives Egypt's military rulers to maintain the peace treaty, and protect its other interests in the region.