WEB DESK
In a major International initiative India on Thursday voted along with Arab nations and other at The United Nations General Assembly, UNGA, in favour of UN resolution that rejected the US decision to treat Jeruslem as Israel’s capital.
The UNGA voted, 128-9, in favour of the UN resolution to declare the US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital “null and void”.
A total of 128 countries voted in favor of the UN resolution, nine voted against it and 35 countries abstained. The United States and Israel were joined by Guatemala, Honduras and Togo in opposing the resolution.
India stuck to principled position on Palestine followed over the last seven decades as it voted in favour of a resolution at the United Nations General Assembly which opposed and rejected US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
New Delhi’s “yes” vote comes even as the NDA government’s proximity to Israel and the US has grown. In fact, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to visit India next month and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had skipped Palestine during his visit to Israel in July this year.
This comes after Arab ambassadors in Delhi, reportedly met officials in the Ministry of External Affairs, including Minister of State M J Akbar last week on December 11, and asked India to make a “stronger statement” on Trump’s decision.
Indian officials had sought to allay their concerns saying that New Delhi was not going to take any position dictated by a “third country”.
After Trump’s announcement on December 6, New Delhi had said that “India’s position on Palestine is independent and consistent. It is shaped by our views and interests, and not determined by any third country,” This was perceived as “lacking condemnation” against Trump’s move by Arab envoys.
The US was isolated as there were only nine votes against the resolution including its own and Israel’s. Interestingly, Bhutan is among the 35 countries — along with Canada, Australia and Mexico — to have abstained.
The resolution, co-sponsored by Turkey and Yemen, called Trump’s recognition “null and void” and reaffirmed 10 Security Council resolutions on Jerusalem dating back to 1967, including requirements that the city’s final status must be decided in direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
It also “demands that all states comply with Security Council resolutions regarding the holy city of Jerusalem and not to recognise any actions or measures contrary to those resolutions”. Trump had threatened to cut funding to countries that did not back the US recognition.
