World leaders seem to have defied U.S. President Donald Trump’s warning that the United States would take note of those opposing its decision to move the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. President Trump had also threatened to cut off U.S. aids to the countries opposing the decision. Speaking during a cabinet meeting, Trump had said, “I like the message that Nikki sent yesterday at the United Nations for all of these nations that take our money and then they vote against us at the Security Council, or they vote against us potentially at the assembly. They take hundreds of millions of dollars and even billions of dollars, and then they vote against us. Well, we’re watching those votes. Let them vote against us, we’ll save a lot. We don’t care.” He further added that situation has changed under his administration, “But this isn’t like it used to be where they could vote against you, and then you pay them hundreds of millions of dollars and nobody knows what they’re doing. So, Nikki, that was the right message that you and I agreed to be sent yesterday.”
The world seems to have defied him as 128 countries voting in favor of the UN resolution that calls for all countries to refrain from moving the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem unless the status of the city can be decided via direct negotiations between two parties involved; Israel and Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Only 9 countries voted against the resolution including Israel and 35 countries abstained including U.S. allies like Australia.
While the non-binding vote was a rebuke to Trump and the United States, Trump can be credited with challenging the status quo, which is likely to expedite the negotiations after years of no progress.
