Canada abstains as UN General Assembly backs resolution to nullify U.S. move on Jerusalem
President Donald Trump has threatened to cut off funding to countries that oppose U.S.
A controversial UN resolution againstPresident Donald Trump'sdecision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital has passed 128-9, withCanada among 35 countries that abstained from voting.
Before the UN General Assembly votedThursday, Trump had threatened to punish any country thatopposed him.
The assembled voted in favour ofdeclaring "null and void"the U.S.'srecognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Voting with the U.S. were Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau and Togo.
Thursday's vote in New York City was significantly lower than its supporters had hoped for, with many forecasting at least 150 "yes" votes out of the 193 member states.
Twenty-one countries didn't vote at all.
"We are disappointed that this resolution is one-sided and does not advance prospects for peace to which we aspire, which is why we have abstained on today's vote," said Adam Austin, a spokesperson for Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Canada's ambassador to the UN, Marc-Andr Blanchard, reiterated those remarks while explaining Canada's position at the General Assembly.
"We also take this opportunity to emphasize the importance of the city of Jerusalem to the threemonotheistic religions. Denying the connection between Jerusalem and the Jewish, MuslimandChristian faiths undermines the integrity of the site for all," Blanchard said.
"Canada calls for calm and firmly condemns the violence, terrorism and targeting of civilians witnessed in the last weeks."
The Palestinians and their Arab and Islamic supporters sought the General Assembly vote after the United States on Monday vetoed a resolution supported by the 14 other UN Security Council members that would have required Trump to rescind his declaration on Jerusalem as Israel's capital and not move the U.S. Embassy there.
Trump has threatenedto cut off U.S. funding to countries that oppose his decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
"For all these nations, they take our money and then vote against us. They take hundreds of millions of dollars, even billions of dollars and then they vote against us," Trump told reporters at the cabinet meeting Wednesday. "We're watching those votes. Let them vote against us.
"We'll save a lot. We don't care," he said, alluding to U.S. aid.
Ahead of the emergency assembly meeting, U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley said"no vote in the United Nations will make any difference" on the U.S. decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem, which will go ahead because "it is the right thing to do."
"The United States will remember this day in which it was singled out for attack in the General Assembly for the very right of exercising our right as a sovereign nation," she said.
The NDPsaid they're disappointed by Canada's decision to abstain.
"At a time when Canada should be standing up for international law and promoting human rights, Canada is isolating itself," saidForeign Affairs CriticHlneLaverdire.
"We urge the Trudeau government to uphold their own stated values, condemn illegal settlements, and finally stand up for the rights of the Palestinian people as well as the rights of Israelis. Canada has been silent on these issues for far too long."
With files from The Associated Press
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