Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel catered to the wishes of the Israeli hardliners who have created an apartheid state against the Palestinians. It also pleased the evangelical extremists in the US, especially those eagerly awaiting he Rapture and the end of the world because this seems to fulfill one of the so-called prophecies that herald the second coming of Jesus.
But the move also violated a long-standing international consensus about the status of Jerusalem and the UN Security Council voted 14-1 to condemn it, with the US having to veto it. Even long standing US allies like the UK and France split with the US on this, showing its deep isolation on this issue.
The issue was then put to a vote of the 193 members of the UN General Assembly and Trump threated to cut off aid to any country that voted to condemn the move. So what happened? Today 128 countries voted in favor of calling on the US to withdraw its recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to declare as “null and void” and must be cancelled any decisions regarding the status of the city. 35 nations abstained and 21 countries did not show up for the vote. The only states to vote against the resolution were the US and Israel (of course) and Guatemala, Honduras, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau and Togo. (Note that Israel supplies the repressive right wing Honduras government with much of its weapons.)
Here’s how the vote went.
Pretty much all of western Europe, the strongest allies of the US, voted in favor of the resolution and against the US. Even countries like Afghanistan and Iraq voted for the resolution, even though they are heavily dependent on US aid.
What will the petulant man-child that is president of the US do in response to this direct rebuke? Who knows? But it will be something childish.
Samantha Bee discusses the weirdos desiring the Apocalypse that Trump is pandering to and what drives them
“Much of the world views Donald Trump as a paper tiger”
I’d disagree. I think the rest of the world regards him more as a petulant five-year-old whose parents gave him a 12-guage shotgun instead of a squirt gun.
We think he’s totally incompetent but highly dangerous. Given that he seems to have the attention span of a gnat and the seeming ability to rationalize just about anything we can only hope that this too will pass quickly.
I am sorry to see that Canada only abstained but given that we are in close to open trade wars with the USA at the moment I can understand the Gov’t’s approach.
Russia voted against the US!?!
It’s all over now, Vladimir! (But Donald intends to keep the ring…)
Canada and mexico abstained? Cowards.
Anyone who votes for a politician averring a belief in the Rapture, Armageddon, etc. should have his head examined or at the very least stay home on election day.
Such belief calls for the death of billions of humans and the enslavement of the remnant.
It is not surprising that the majority of the world’s nations voted against Trump’s Jerusalem initiative in spite of the threat of suspension of foreign aid.
Canada was apparently going to vote with the US but their threats made it so Trudeau didn’t want us to be seen as a puppet, so I’ll take the abstention as it was probably the best we could expect from our government (a Conservative government would have voted with the US no matter what).
For me, the most interesting aspect is how the USA has made it plain it considers its international aid to be a retainer which should be contingent on recipients’ international political support.
—
Obviously, Australia is not in a position to piss the USA off too much, but at least our diplomat is a bit more, um, diplomatic.
Tabby,
I saw the Canada vote differently, that Trudeau’s government put out this story so as to preserve his somewhat inflated image of being progressive. In other words, they are trying to have it both ways, to make their vote that was meant to appease Trump look as if it is an act defiance of Trump.
It is true that Harper would have been worse but that is a low bar.
#6
I’d call it cowardice personally, but given Malcolm’s conservative leanings, I’m actually happy that he didn’t side with Trump. I doubt that early chewing out over the asylum seekers was very endearing.
@ 7 Mano
You could call it cowardice assuming the story is false but as I said we are in several near trade wars with the USA at the moment (NAFTA, the Bombardier-Boeing mess, the perenial soft wood lumber dispute (AKA the 100 Years War) and some peripherals.
You might notice that Mexico abstained as well. Larger population but similar, more serious, economic argument.
When you have a population and economy roughly one tenth of the USA and it is your next door neighbour and major trading partner it behooves you to tread carefully, especially when the USA has a vindictive fool/crook with apparently no economic or geopolitical knowledge, what-so-ever as the chief executive.
Trump is stupid enough to withdraw from NAFTA, badly damaging the US economic, very, very, badly damaging the Canadian economy and devastating the Mexican economy.
The results for the US and Canadian economies would be bad, for Canada very bad; potentially the results in Mexico could be serious political unrest and a good chance that the next Federal elections could put a left-wing populist, à la Hugo Chávez, in the presidential office plus sending waves (tsunamis?) of economic refugees fleeing north.
Does the USA really want a Mexico in close political and economic alliance with China and Russia? That is the type of thing that p**ing off the old fool could bring about.
As John Morales @ 6 says, Australia is not in a position to piss the USA off too much but from where Canada and Mexico sit Australia has huge room to maneuver.
We are envious, John.
Bottom line, the USA’s action goes against the purpose and ethos of the UN; ownership by virtue of conquest is supposed to be deprecated. The reason Israel controls Jerusalem is by right of conquest (1967 war).
The UN is not quite a paper tiger; there is a point beyond which it will act. But this is nowhere that point.
@ 7 Mano
Just to keep on whinging
Trudeau’s government put out this story so as to preserve his somewhat inflated image of being progressive.
I could easily be mistaken but I don’t think than Trudeau is seen as a great liberal/socialist in Canadian terms. I’d put him, perhaps a tiny bit left of centre.* Or even a little to the right?
American would call a progressive than the recently departed and unlamented Steven Harper but compared to the late Jack Layton and, quite possibly, Elizabeth May of the Greens he is just a solid middle-roader.
I think the US may see him as a progressive because the supposedly leftist Democrats are closer to our Conservatives. Actually they may be more right-wing than our rank and file Tories though not the Con leadership.
Sorry for the terminology Marcus
Damn, cat stepped on keyboard and I missed the mess-up.
That should read “He is more what an American would call a progressive
———-
* Sorry for the terminology Marcus.
Paper tiger? No, paper tigers don’t come on a cardboard tube.
It’s relevant to consider how many of the countries that are big US aid recipients were influenced. Haiti, Malawi, Mexico, South Sudan and Uganda all abstained, and Zambia didn’t attend. Useful information for Prez Chump to know about who can be relied upon to buckle when bullied.
(admittedly Mexico is already in that boat. In their position I would be careful to never antagonise the US in any way. Cowardice, prudence, tomayto, tomahto)
Lackeys and wannabe-lackeys also had a chance to show their colours.