US vetoes UN resolution rejecting Trump's Jerusalem decision

The United States today vetoed a draft UN resolution rejecting President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, after all 14 other Security Council members backed the measure.

The veto cast by US Ambassador Nikki Haley highlighted Washington's isolation over Trump's announcement that the US embassy will be moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, effectively ignoring Palestinian claims on the city.

Key US allies Britain, France, Italy, Japan and Ukraine were among the 14 countries in the



15-member council that backed the measure asserting that any decisions on the status of Jerusalem "have no legal effect, are null and void and must be rescinded."

Egypt put forward the draft resolution which had included a call on all countries to refrain from opening embassies in Jerusalem, reflecting concerns that other governments could follow the US lead. 

It demanded that all member-states not recognize any actions that are contrary to UN resolutions on the status of the city.