US vetoes UN resolution voiding Jerusalem decision

BY BRETT SAMUELS - 12/18/17 01:06 PM EST 705

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The United States on Monday vetoed a United Nations resolution that would have required President Trump to rescind his declaration of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, The Associated Press reported.

Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the UN, called the resolution an "insult," saying the U.S. "will not be told" where it can locate its embassy.

Every other member of the Security Council supported the measure in a 14-1 vote. In order to pass, nine of the 15 members of the U.N. Security Council had to vote for the resolution.

Egypt drafted the resolution, which did not specifically name Trump or the U.S. 

Trump announced earlier this month that the U.S. would recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, and would begin planning to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The decision broke with decades of precedent from past presidents and drew swift criticism from European and Arab leaders, who warned it would undermine stability in the region and threaten peace talks.

Haley on Monday added that the U.S. would vote “no” if given the chance on a resolution presented a year ago condemning Israeli establishments in Palestinian territory and saying the settlements had no legal validity.

.@USUN Ambassador Nikki Haley: Given the chance to vote again on Resolution 2234, I can say with complete confidence that the United States would vote no; we would exercise our veto power. pic.twitter.com/HZQ2YcjdVs

— Department of State (@StateDept) December 18, 2017

The U.S. abstained from the vote in December 2016, prompting widespread backlash against then-President Obama. Had it voted "no," the resolution would have failed.