UN Security Council to Reexamine Legality of US Recognition of Jerusalem

Following the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel‘s capital, the United Nations Security Council is considering voting on a draft resolution stating that any change to the status of Jerusalem has no legal effect and must be reversed, reported international media on Saturday.

The one-page draft resolution was initially proposed by Egypt and was circulated to the 15 members of the Security Council on Saturday.

The draft resolution states that “any decisions and actions which purport to have altered the character, status or demographic composition of the Holy City of Jerusalem have no legal effect, are null and void and must be rescinded in compliance with relevant resolutions of the Security Council.”

Without specifically mentioning Trump’s move, the draft resolution stresses that the status of Jerusalem is an issue “to be resolved through negotiations” and expresses “deep regret over recent decisions on Jerusalem status.”

The proposed measure, which is expected to be voted as early as Monday, also urges states to desist from establishing diplomatic missions in Jerusalem in line with prior Security Council resolutions on the city’s status.

Back to July 1980, Israel passed a law that declared Jerusalem as the united capital of Israel, but the United Nations Security Council responded with a resolution condemning Israel’s annexation of East Jerusalem and declared it a violation of international law.

In order to pass, the draft resolution would need to be backed by the other 14 members of the Security Council, including the permanent members: US, France, Britain, Russia, and China.

However, diplomats expect the United States to use its power of Veto to block the resolution after the US Ambassador to the UN, Niki Haley, called Trump’s decision as “the just and right thing to do.”

Earlier this month, Trump delivered a speech in the White House, formally declaring Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, adding that he also ordered his aides to start process of moving the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a move that has been condemned by the international community as unproductive, dangerous, and against international law.

On December 9, foreign ministers at the Arab League Council held an emergency meeting to discuss Trump’s decision. During the meeting, foreign ministers, including Morocco’s Nasser Bourita, denounced the US decision.

The high-level representatives also vowed their countries’ commitment to support the Palestinian cause, and to urge the US to reconsider its decision.