UNITED NATIONS (Monitoring Desk): The upcoming UN vote on Jerusalem will send a message to the United States that the world stands with Palestine, said Pakistan’s envoy Dr Maleeha Lodhi on Wednesday.
“United States should decide whether to stand with the world or an occupying force which is the reason for instability and chaos in the Middle East.”
Dr Lodhi’s statements came ahead of a United Nations vote on a motion rejecting US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, under strong pressure from President Donald Trump who has threatened to cut funding to countries that back the measure.
“Pakistan is among the countries which have co-sponsored this resolution. We are hopeful that the General Assembly will adopt this with a heavy majority. This resolution is similar to the one which was vetoed by the US.”
Dr Lodhi emphasised that Pakistan had rejected the US decision terming it illegal and leading to chaos and instability being fueled in the Middle East.
The UN General Assembly will hold an emergency session to decide on a draft resolution that the United States vetoed at the Security Council on Monday after all other 14 council members voted in favour of the measure.
On the eve of the vote, Trump suggested there could be reprisals for countries that support the motion, put forward by Yemen and Turkey on behalf of Arab and Muslim countries.
“They take hundreds of millions of dollars and even billions of dollars and then they vote against us,” Trump said at the White House.
“Well, we’re watching those votes. Let them vote against us. We´ll save a lot. We don´t care.”
The draft resolution mirrors the vetoed measure, reaffirming that any decision on the status of Jerusalem has no legal effect and must be rescinded.
It does not mention Trump´s decision but expresses “deep regret at recent decisions concerning the status of Jerusalem.”
Diplomats expect strong support for the resolution, which is non-binding, despite the US pressure to either abstain, vote against it or simply not turn up for the vote.
