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UN General Assembly Rejects Trump’s Decision, Threats

Dr. Riyad Mansour (center), Palestine’s observer at the United Nations, talks with members of the General Assembly prior to a vote Thursday at United Nations headquarters. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
Dr. Riyad Mansour (center), Palestine’s observer at the United Nations, talks with members of the General Assembly prior to a vote Thursday at United Nations headquarters. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
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UN General Assembly Rejects Trump’s Decision, Threats

Dr. Riyad Mansour (center), Palestine’s observer at the United Nations, talks with members of the General Assembly prior to a vote Thursday at United Nations headquarters. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
Dr. Riyad Mansour (center), Palestine’s observer at the United Nations, talks with members of the General Assembly prior to a vote Thursday at United Nations headquarters. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday approved a resolution banning a change in the “character, status or demographic composition of the city of Jerusalem”, in a clear rejection of US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize the city as the capital of Israel, despite his administration’s threats to punish countries voting against his decision.
 
The decision came as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met in Riyadh on Thursday with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and discussed the need to “intensify practical efforts to ensure the legitimate rights of the brotherly Palestinian people to establish their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.”
 
While 128 States supported the General Assembly resolution, only nine opposed it - Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Togo, and the United States - with 35 abstentions.
 
US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley repeated her threats to cut off aid to those who vote in favor of the resolution.
 
“This vote will make a difference on how Americans look at the UN and on how we look at countries who disrespect us in the UN. And this vote will be remembered,” she said ahead of the vote on the status of Jerusalem.
 
The resolution demanded that all states “comply with Security Council resolutions regarding the Holy City of Jerusalem, and not recognize any actions or measures contrary to those resolutions.”
 
“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,” it added.
 
The Assembly also called upon all states to refrain from the establishment of diplomatic missions in the Holy City of Jerusalem, pursuant to Security Council Resolution 478 adopted in 1980.
 
Reiterating its call for the reversal of the negative trends that endanger the two-State solution, the Assembly urged greater international and regional efforts and support aimed at achieving, without delay, a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East.
 
Abbas said the resolution “confirms the international community’s position on our side,” while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the United Nations a “house of lies.”
 
In his address to the General Assembly, the representative of Israel, Danny Danon, said: ““No General Assembly resolution will ever drive us from Jerusalem.”
 
Other speakers included Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki, and the ambassadors of Yemen, Turkey, Venezuela, Pakistan, Indonesia, Maldives, Syria, Bangladesh, Cuba, Iran, China, Malaysia, North Korea, South Africa and the Vatican, who have all stressed that East Jerusalem was the capital of the state of Palestine and that the US decision undermined peace efforts and a two-state solution.

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Clerics Accuse West Bank Israeli Settlers of Attacking Christian Sites

Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa walks during the visit of the town of Taybeh, a Christian village in the Israeli-Occupied West Bank, following settler attacks, July 14, 2025. (Reuters)
Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa walks during the visit of the town of Taybeh, a Christian village in the Israeli-Occupied West Bank, following settler attacks, July 14, 2025. (Reuters)
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Clerics Accuse West Bank Israeli Settlers of Attacking Christian Sites

Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa walks during the visit of the town of Taybeh, a Christian village in the Israeli-Occupied West Bank, following settler attacks, July 14, 2025. (Reuters)
Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa walks during the visit of the town of Taybeh, a Christian village in the Israeli-Occupied West Bank, following settler attacks, July 14, 2025. (Reuters)

Christian leaders accused Israeli settlers on Monday of attacking sacred sites in the West Bank, in violence that one said was forcing some to consider quitting the occupied territory.

The Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III - visiting the Christian town of Taybeh with other Jerusalem-based clerics - said settlers had started a fire near a cemetery and a 5th century church there last week.

"These actions are a direct and intentional threat to our local community ... but also to the historic and religious heritage," the patriarch told diplomats and journalists at a press conference in Taybeh.

Settlers had also attacked homes in the area, he said.

"We call for an immediate and transparent investigation on why the Israeli police did not respond to emergency calls from the local community and why these abhorrent actions continue to go unpunished," he added.

Israel's government spokesperson did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Israel's government had previously said that any acts of violence by civilians are unacceptable and that individuals should not take the law into their own hands.

During the visit, the heads of the churches led locals in prayer as candles flickered in the ruins of the 5th century church of St George. They spoke with residents who described their fears.

B'Tselem and other rights groups say settler violence in the West Bank has risen since the start of Israel's war against Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza in late 2023.

Dozens of Israelis have also been killed in Palestinian street attacks in recent years and the Israeli military has intensified raids across the West Bank.

Palestinian health authorities and witnesses said two men, including a US citizen, were killed by settlers during a confrontation on Friday night.

Fears over violence were pushing Christians to leave the West Bank, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Roman Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem since 2020, said.

"Unfortunately, the temptation to emigrate is there because of the situation," he added. "This time it's very difficult to see how and when this will finish, and especially for the youth to talk about hope, trust for the future."

Around 50,000 Christian Palestinians live in Jerusalem and in the West Bank, an area that includes many of the faith's most sacred sites including Bethlehem where believers say Jesus was born.

Around 700,000 Israeli settlers live among 2.7 million Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, territories Israel captured from Jordan in the 1967 war, which Palestinians see as part of a future state.