Rebuffing US, General Assembly votes resolution on Jerusalem; India backs move

India joined the overwhelming Assembly majority to vote for the resolution that demands that the US comply comply with Security Council decisions against changing the status of Jerusalem.

United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, addresses the General Assembly prior to the vote on Jerusalem, on December 21, 2017, at UN Headquarters in New York. UN member-states were poised to vote on a motion rejecting US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, after President Donald Trump threatened to cut funding to countries that back the measure. / AFP PHOTO / EDUARDO MUNOZ ALVAREZ

United Nations: In a rebuff to the US, the UN General Assembly on Thursday, passed by two-thirds majority, a resolution criticising President Donald Trump's decision to unilaterally declare Jerusalem the capital of Israel and move Washington's embassy there. India joined the overwhelming Assembly majority to vote for the resolution that demands that the US comply comply with Security Council decisions against changing the status of Jerusalem. Defying Trump's threats to cut off aid to countries that voted for the resolution, 128 countries voted for the resolution, while nine countries joined the US and Israel in voting against it. An unusually large number - 35 countries - abstained, showing that Trump's threats had some effect.

#UNGA adopts resolution on status of Jerusalem. Votes: 128 in favour; 9 against; 35 abstentions. pic.twitter.com/x21drrmQXb

— United Nations (@UN) December 21, 2017

The resolution was sponsored by Yemen on behalf of the Arab Group in the UN, and by Turkey on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. It followed the US veto on Monday of a similar resolution in the Security Council introduced by Egypt. While the Assembly resolutions do not have the legal clout of the Council resolutions, they carry political clout. Both sides - the US against the Assembly resolution and Islamic and Arab countries for it - mounted a strong campaign.

128 countries vote in favor of U.N. call for U.S. to withdraw decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, 9 countries oppose: Reuters pic.twitter.com/qdWmz9nQer — ANI (@ANI) December 21, 2017