UN General Assembly adopts resolution on status of Jerusalem

Xinhua

The General Assembly on Thursday adopted a resolution on the status of Jerusalem that will make U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital have no legal effect.

In a rare emergency special session, the draft resolution tabled by Turkey and Yemen was adopted 128-9 with 35 abstentions.

The resolution "affirms 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status or demographic composition of the Holy City of Jerusalem have no legal effect, are null and void and must be rescinded in compliance with relevant resolutions of the Security Council, and in this regard calls upon all states to refrain from the establishment of diplomatic missions in the Holy City of Jerusalem."

It further demands that all UN member states comply with Security Council resolutions regarding Jerusalem, and not recognize any actions or measures contrary to those resolutions.

Such a vote at the General Assembly is non-binding but a resounding "yes" reflects the collective will of the international community and carries much political weight.

Thursday's General Assembly emergency session was called after the United States vetoed a draft resolution on the status of Jerusalem at the Security Council on Monday. All other 14 members of the council voted in favor.

The Security Council vote was prompted by Trump's Dec. 6 announcement to recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital and to move the U.S. Embassy in the country from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Under a 1950 resolution, a General Assembly emergency special session can be called for all UN member states to consider a matter "with a view to making appropriate recommendations" for collective measures in case the Security Council fails to act.

Thursday's emergency special session was only the 10th of its kind in UN history. The last such meeting was held in 2009.