New York: Ignoring all democratic and civilized norms, the United States Thursday after United Nations voted overwhelmingly against its provocative and illegal stand on Jerusalem, the Trump administration is openly threatening and resorting to bullying members who refused to follow its diktat.
"The United States will remember this day in which it was singled out in this assembly for the very act of exercising our right as a sovereign nation," Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said.
In an attempt to blackmail the United Nations and its members, Nikki Haley also threatened to cut its funding for the global body.
"We will remember it when, once again, we are called up to make the world's largest contribution to the U.N., and we will remember it when many countries come calling on us to pay even more and to use our influence for their benefit", she said.
Characterizing the United States as "disrespected," Haley said the U.S. Embassy will be moved to Jerusalem regardless.
"No vote in the United Nations is going to make any difference on that," she said. "But this vote will make a difference in how Americans look at the U.N. and how we look at countries that disrespect us at the U.N. And this vote will be remembered."
"When we make generous contributions to the UN we also have a legitimate expectation that our goodwill is recognized and respected," she added.
A total of 128 countries defied President Donald Trump on Thursday and voted in favor of the United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for the United States to withdraw its decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
Trump had threatened to cut off financial aid to countries that voted in favor. His warning did appear to have some impact with nine countries voting against the resolution and 35 abstaining. A total of 128 countries voted for the resolution.
Those who supported the UN General Assembly Jerusalem resolution ignoring Trump's bullying is also India - the strongest supporter till recently of the Palestinian cause.
The 193-nation assembly will also decide on a draft resolution reaffirming that Jerusalem is an issue that must be resolved through negotiations and that any decision on its status must be rescinded.
Although the significance of the UN General Assembly resolution is purely symbolic, the resolution carries political resonance, particularly in the Middle East, where the U.S. decision has sparked protests and drawn condemnation from Arab governments.
Underscoring the U.S. isolation on the issue, even many allies have publicly appealed to the administration to reverse its position and leave Jerusalem's status undecided until Israelis and Palestinians negotiate terms.
The UN General Assembly voted on Thursday three days after a similar resolution was blocked in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) because of the negative vote by the United States.
A negative vote or veto from one of the Council's five permanent members China, France, Russia, United Kingdom and the United States blocks passage of a resolution.
Therefore the UNSC resolution on Monday was rejected despite support from the other four permanent members and from the ten non-permanent members.
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