Washington, Dec 22 (Just News):Ambassador Nikki Haley, US Permanent Representative to the United Nations, delivered remarks ahead of a UN General Assembly vote condemning the American decision to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. In her remarks, Ambassador Haley defended President Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and stressed that the decision is the will of the American people. She highlighted the United States’ role in supporting the United Nations’ important work and condemned Member States’ repeated efforts to single out Israel and U.S. support for its ally.
While the resolution was adopted, the vote tally showed that a total of 65 nations refused to condemn the United States today and did not support the resolution, including nine votes against, 35 abstentions, and 21 absences.
“The United States is by far the single largest contributor to the United Nations and its agencies. We do this, in part, in order to advance our values and our interests. When that happens, our participation in the UN produces great good for the world. Together we feed, clothe, and educate desperate people. We nurture and sustain fragile peace in conflict areas throughout the world. And we hold outlaw regimes accountable. We do this because it represents who we are. It is our American way. But we’ll be honest with you. When we make generous contributions to the UN, we also have a legitimate expectation that our good will is recognized and respected. When a nation is singled out for attack in this organization, that nation is disrespected. What’s more, that nation is asked to pay for the ‘privilege’ of being disrespected.”
“The United States will remember this day in which it was singled out for attack in the General Assembly for the very act of exercising our right as a sovereign nation. We will remember it when we are called upon to once again make the world’s largest contribution to the United Nations. And we will remember it when so many countries come calling on us, as they so often do, to pay even more and to use our influence for their benefit.”
“America will put our embassy in Jerusalem. That is what the American people want us to do, and it is the right thing to do. No vote in the United Nations will make any difference on that. But this vote will make a difference on how Americans look at the UN and on how we look at countries who disrespect us in the UN. And this vote will be remembered.”
(Justnews/ys/0020hr)
