UNITED NATIONS—Armenia joined 127 countries on Thursday to vote in favor of a resolution rejecting President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
The world diplomats rejected threats and objections and voted for a measure that discouraged nations from moving their embassies to Jerusalem. The United States’ traditional allies, the United Kingdom and France were among the countries joining the chorus of objections to Trump’s decision last month to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Siding with the U.S. on the vote were Israel as well as Togo, Honduras, Marshall Island, Guatemala, Palau, Micronesia, and Nauru, with 35 countries abstaining.
On Wednesday, in a Twitter post, Trump threatened to cut off assistance to any country that votes against the U.S. position.
“We’re watching those votes. Let them vote against us. We’ll save a lot. We don’t care,” Trump said in his Twitter post on Wednesday.
Ahead of the vote on Thursday, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley expressed her resistance in no uncertain terms.
“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,” Haley said Thursday.
“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,” she added.
Immediately following Trump’s announcement recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, Armenian religious leaders condemned the decision, warning about consequences that can impact the region for a long time. His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia unequivocally rejected Trump’s decision during a meeting with Lebanese President Michel Aoun. The Jerusalem Patriarch joined other Christian leaders in Israel to warn of severe consequences.
“Armenia’s position on the status of Jerusalem remains unchanged,” said Tigran Balayan, the spokesman for Armenia’s Foreign Ministry said after UN vote.
“The status of Jerusalem is one of the most important issues on international agenda and can be solved through negotiations within the framework of a settlement that will benefit the parties to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” Balayan said.
“We closely follow all Jerusalem-related developments,” Balayan said.
Let’s see if the US will make good on its threat and cut off all financial aid to Armenia.
Will Yerevan be in favour for Thrump’s decision when Israel recognizes the Armenian genocide? The Armenians living in Israel are more protected than in any arab country. Nor President Michel Aoun or any puppet/ proxy of Hizballah Will/ can protect it’s Christian citizens
Well dear Sara i am an Armenian living in Jerusalem, I am wondering where you got the information from about us Armenians being well protected in Israel, be sure we are being treated exactly like Palestinians.Israel is known all around the world as a democratic country and that’s a very big lie. Politicians tell you what they want you to believe. Visit Jerusalem talk to ordinary people then you will know the truth about Israel.
Big mistake.
Well done, Good job.
Well done