Netanyahu rejects UN resolution on Jerusalem

By Said Amuri

JERUSALEM (AA) - Israel has rejected the UN General Assembly resolution on Thursday which criticized the U.S. decision on the status of Jerusalem.

"Israel completely rejects this preposterous resolution," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in response to the UN vote.

The UN on Thursday overwhelmingly adopted a resolution on Jerusalem calling on the U.S. to withdraw its recognition of the city as Israel's capital.

A total of 128 members voted in favor of the resolution, nine countries voted against and 35 others abstained.

Netanyahu thanked to the U.S. President Donald Trump and the countries that favored the Jerusalem move alongside Israel.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon also condemned the resolution in a statement.

Thursday's voting came after the U.S. vetoed on Monday a UN Security Council resolution that rejected the establishment of diplomatic facilities in the contested city.

Unlike the UN’s 15-member Security Council, the U.S. did not have a veto in the General Assembly.