Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - The UN General Assembly on Thursday opened an emergency session to vote on a motion rejecting US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

128 countries voted in favor of UN call for US to withdraw decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, despite Trump threat to cut aid.

Nine countries voted against UN general assembly resolution on Jerusalem, 35 abstained.

The 193-nation assembly will 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that Jerusalem is an issue that must be resolved through negotiations and that any decision on its status must be rescinded.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki said that the draft resolution to be voted on by the United Nations General Assembly today does not mean "we bear hostility to the US".

He said from the UN platform that the resolution was "to uphold the voice of the international community, which was embodied by the reactions of people and governments around the world."

Al-Malki thanked the Arab States, the Islamic Cooperation Countries and the Non-Aligned Movement who called for this emergency meeting following the US veto in the Security Council against an Egyptian decision calling on US President Donald Trump to back down from his stance on Jerusalem.

Malki said that the US decision on Jerusalem fuels religious feelings and serves Israel's interests.

"The United States missed an opportunity to reverse its decision, ignoring the calls of the international community to respect international legitimacy," he said.

A victory for Palestine
A spokesman for Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed a UN vote on Thursday that called on the United States to withdraw its decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

"The vote is a victory for Palestine," said Abbas spokesman Nabil Abu Rdainah. "We will continue our efforts in the United Nations and at all international forums to put an end to this occupation and to establish our Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital."

*Agencies