UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations General Assembly voted on Thursday to adopt the draft resolution “Jerusalem” entailing “that any actions by Israel, the occupying power, to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the holy city of Jerusalem were illegal and therefore null and void”.

The resolution came after reports that the Trump administration was actively considering relocating its embassy to Jerusalem.

An overwhelming 151 states voted in favour of adopting the resolution, while six states — Canada, Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Nauru, the United States — voted against the resolution.

Nine states abstained, including Australia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Honduras, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, South Sudan and Togo.

US Vice President Mike Pence said last Tuesday that US President Donald Trump was giving the move a serious thought. “The president has said that he has given serious consideration to the matter, and we’re looking at it with great care,” US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said.

She added that Mr Trump had until Dec 4 to make a decision on the embassy relocation or waive the matter for another six month. But the UN resolution adopted by its general assembly seemed to reject that position.

Published in Dawn, December 3rd, 2017