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UN General Assembly passes resolution against recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital

The document was supported by 128 states, including Russia

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki addressing the Special Session of the UN General Assembly in New York on December 21 EPA-EFE/JUSTIN LANE

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki addressing the Special Session of the UN General Assembly in New York on December 21

© EPA-EFE/JUSTIN LANE

UNITED NATIONS, December 21. /TASS/. The UN General Assembly passed a resolution on Thursday against recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The resolution won a majority of votes. Nine countries, including Guatemala, Honduras, Israel and the United States, voted against the document.

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The document, which came as a response to the United States’ decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, was supported by 128 states, including Russia, most European and Latin American countries, as well as countries of the Arab and Islamic world.

Another 35 countries abstained. The text of the resolution prepared by Yemen and Turkey practically fully repeats the draft resolution blocked by the US at the UN Security Council. The UN General Assembly stated that "any decisions and actions, which purport to have altered the character, status or demographic composition of the Holy City of Jerusalem have no legal effect, are null and void and must be rescinded in compliance with relevant resolutions of the Security Council."

On December 6, US President Donald Trump stated the time has come to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and ordered the Department of State to start preparations for moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to that city. On December 18, the United States vetoed the UN Security Council resolution on Jerusalem’s status, after which Arab countries turned to the General Assembly whose decisions are not legally binding.

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