ADVERTISEMENT
To denounce President Trump’s controversial declaration recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly on Thursday 21 December 2017 calling on US to withdraw its recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and declared Trump’s claim “Null and Void”. UNGA Voted 128-9 to repudiate US’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israeli capital. The UNGA without any hesitation voted to denounce president Trump’s decision, largely ignoring Trump’s threats to cut off aid to any country that went against him.
In retaliation to this move, Trump threatened to with hold aid for a vote condemning his position. Earlier US Ambassador to the UN, furious Nikki Haley has sent threatening letters to each member of the UNGA before a vote on a resolution against the US decision, warned all member countries by writing, “US president will be watching vote carefully.” She also added that the United States would be “taking names” of those who vote for the resolution. Haley’s resort to such blatant bullying is oblivious because she knows they do not have a moral or legal argument to convince others. The warning came after when US was out numbered 14 to 1 as its vetoed a UNSC resolution against Trump’s decision. All other 14 member countries of UNSC voted in favor of resolution while United States was completely isolated at UNSC on Monday, 18 December. US couldn’t tolerate this blow which embittered president Trump and threatened to abandon billions of dollars in aid to those countries who criticized his controversial declaration. Therefore, it is clear; the purpose of US foreign aid is to buy votes.
The ultimatums from Trump and Haley to the recipients couldn’t persuade them. This is major blow to American ego and that of the ego of Trump. America should have realized now it not the government of entire planet. This vote is another sign of declining America’s global influence and like a petulant teenager it’s throwing a tantrum as its response… The resolution was adopted with the support of 128 countries, with 9 voted against, 35 abstained vote and 21 were absent. Nine countries — the US, Israel, Togo, Micronesia, Guatemala, Nauru, Palau, Marshall Islands and Honduras — voted against the resolution. Most of the countries that voted with US are members of COFA (Compact of Free Associations). COFA is a deal struck between US and many South Pacific Island Nations, signed in 1986. The agreement guarantees these countries economic help, defense and other benefits, in return, US gets military operating rights in those countries. By abstaining, Hungary, Croatia, Latvia, Romania and the Czech Republic broke EU consensus over vote. Even Key US allies, including Britain, France, Germany and Japan voted for the resolution. Despite America’s effort to safeguard Israeli violation of UN resolution 181 of 1947 and the war crimes exercised by Israelis to expand their territory, the majority of nations maintained their principal position while minimal number succumbed by abstaining or voting against the resolution. The vote at UNGA is seen as a strong rebuke against the US President Donald Trump. While Palestinian authorities hailed the result of vote, called vote a “Victory for Palestine.” The vote also exposed that Palestinian cause is global concern, not limited to Arabs.
A vote in favor of the resolution in the 193-member UN General Assembly, however, is not legally binding. This means it would only serve as a recommendation and would act as an expression of the international community’s stance on Jerusalem. The resolution also affirmed that “any decisions and actions which claim 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 withdrawn in compliance with relevant resolutions of the Security Council, and in this regard, calls upon all States to refrain from the establishment of diplomatic missions in the Holy City of Jerusalem.” Although, US envoy to UN, Haley defended her administration and said US had sovereign right to set up its embassies where it likes. She claimed US is biggest funder of UN and wouldn’t bear being disrespected and paying for “dubious privilege.”
Might it had madden Washington, of the top 10 beneficiaries of US financial assistance this year, only Israel voted “No” and in rest nine countries, eight countries went against US decision and voted “Yes” with the exception of Kenya, which abstained the vote. The United States came in for strident criticism during the General Assembly debate not only for recognizing Jerusalem as Israeli capital but also for threatening UN countries to not vote for the resolution condemning it’s decision. US openly challenged to go and flex its muscles against the weaklings. US may use vote one of the determining factors in disbursing foreign aid in future. Israeli Ambassador to UN, Danny Danno went on defending Trump’s decision and called all those puppets being pulled by the string of the Palestinian puppet master, who manipulate them in reality.
The most heart wrenching movement for Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu was when he came out of the hallucination and found countries like India, Russia and China, all Netanyahu early touted as allies favoring the resolution. Czech Republic, the most favored nation for Israel also went against the hope of Israel. Something happened beyond expectation for Netanyahu, Hungary, Romania, Croatia and Poland also surprisingly voted in favor of Palestinian interests. After studying the whole matter, it is clear, Palestine is a country accepted by majority of nations and Israel is a rouge state before them. US supremacy at UN couldn’t put shroud on truth. The beauty of truth shined out of the bosoms which rekindled the hope of new Palestine with its capital at Jerusalem and retained the status Corpus Seperatum of the Holy land till the dawn of the new Palestine.
The major share of this victory goes to the president of Turkey, Tyyip Erdogon, who openly condemned Trump’s move and infused the courage in the hearts of other members to show displeasured with Washington. The innate character of Turkish president to safeguard the interests Muslims had put a new ray of hope in the ruins of Muslim world. His words might be echoing in the busy streets of New York. Stubborn Trump is still determined to shift embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, but how he can? The vote made it clear; Trump administration is a toothless tiger that roars much louder than it can bite. Surprisingly, India voted in favor of resolution it puzzled me a lot. Earlier on December 6 Subramunim Swamay welcomed Trump’s declaration and asked GoI to shift embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv. This is the double whammy setback for India’s foreign relation with two bulldogs—US & Israel—barking at UN, where India embittered both.
Tail piece: The resolution gave a new ray of hope to Palestinians. A clear message has been sent to Netanyahu, which conveys him to come out of hallucination, almost whole world still recognize Palestinians the real inheritors of land and recognize Israel a rouge state. And Truth shines like a sun. Despite US supremacy and intimidation, UNGA couldn’t conceal truth. US must have learnt from its experiences, Washington cannot buy votes by bulk amount assistance. It is an eye opener for Muslim world too. United they can defend their land, divided they will be ruled, occupied and turned into ruins. One single voice infused a ray of hope in Palestinians to reclaim their land and enforced 128 nations to stand with Muslim Arab Palestine. Without paving road for sectarianism, it would be easy to put an end the tribulations that have engulfed Syria, Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, Yemen, etc.
Sheikh Nissar can be mailed at sheikhnissar@Outlook.com
