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U.S. Vetoes UN Jerusalem Resolution "in Defense of American Sovereignty"

(U.S. Mission to the UN) Amb. Nikki Haley - After the UN Security Council vote on the Jerusalem resolution on Monday, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said: "The fact that this veto is being done in defense of American sovereignty and in defense of America's role in the Middle East peace process is not a source of embarrassment for us; it should be an embarrassment to the remainder of the Security Council." "The President took great care not to prejudge final status negotiations in any way, including the specific boundaries of Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem....It is highly regrettable that some are trying to distort the President's position to serve their own agendas." "What is troublesome to some people is that the United States had the courage and honesty to recognize a fundamental reality. Jerusalem has been the political, cultural, and spiritual homeland of the Jewish people for thousands of years. They have had no other capital city. But the United States' recognition of the obvious - that Jerusalem is the capital and seat of the modern Israeli government - is too much for some." "Back in 1980, when Jimmy Carter was the American President, the Security Council voted on Resolution 478, which called upon diplomatic missions to relocate from Jerusalem....Then-Secretary of State Ed Muskie said...'In our judgment, this provision is not binding. It is without force. And we reject it as a disruptive attempt to dictate to other nations.'...The United States will not be told by any country where we can put our embassy." "The United States has done more than any other country to assist the Palestinian people. By far. Since 1994, we have given over $5 billion to the Palestinians....Last year, the United States voluntarily funded almost 30% of UNRWA's budget. That's more than the next two largest donors combined.... When the American people see a group of countries whose total contributions to the Palestinian people is less than 1% of UNRWA's budget...accuse the United States of being insufficiently committed to peace, the American people lose their patience." "What we witnessed here today in the Security Council is an insult. It won't be forgotten. It's one more example of the United Nations doing more harm than good in addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Today, for the simple act of deciding where to put our embassy, the United States was forced to defend its sovereignty. The record will reflect that we did so proudly."
2017-12-19 00:00:00
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