Haley warns against Jerusalem resolution ahead of UN vote

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley warned Thursday that a U.N. resolution condemning the Trump administration’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital would damage Washington’s relationship with the international body.

“The United States will remember this day in which it was singled out for attack in the General Assembly,” Haley told the U.N. General Assembly. “We will remember it when we are called upon to, once again, make the world’s largest contribution to the United Nations.”

“America will put our embassy in Jerusalem. That is what the American people want us to do, and it is the right thing to do,” she continued. “No vote in the United Nations will make any difference on that. But this vote will make a difference in how Americans view the U.N.”

Haley’s comments came just before the General Assembly was set to vote on the resolution, which calls on the U.S. to withdraw its decision recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. 

{mosads}Haley said that the U.N. resolution “singled out” the U.S. for criticism despite the financial backing Washington provides the international body. She said that countries would have to consider their position on the resolution in light of the foreign aid they receive from the U.S.

“We’ll be honest with you, when we make generous contributions to the United Nations, we also have a legitimate expectation that our goodwill is recognized and respected,” she said.

In the days leading up to the vote, Haley and President Trump sought to warn countries that the U.S. would remember those countries that voted in favor of the resolution. Trump suggested on Wednesday that the U.S. could pull foreign aid from countries that do so.

Trump’s decision earlier this month to recognize Jerusalem spurred immediate backlash from Arab and Muslim leaders, who warned that the move would threaten stability and peace in the region. 

Israel considers the city its capital, but Palestinians have also aspired to establish the eastern sector of the city as the capital of a future Palestinian state.

The U.S. has sought to remain neutral on Jerusalem’s status for decades and has held that the matter should be dealt with in peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians. Trump’s decision prompted leaders in Arab and other Muslim-majority countries to declare the U.S. essentially disqualified from brokering such negotiations.