Palestinians say U.S. veto of UN resolution on Jerusalem leads to deeper isolation

RAMALLAH, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian Authority on Monday slammed the U.S. for vetoing a UN Security Council resolution on Jerusalem, saying it will lead to further U.S. isolation in the international community.

The U.S. on Monday vetoed the UNSC draft declaration, proposed by Egypt, that rejects U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, though 14 other members voted in favor.

Palestinian President's spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh said in an official statement that the U.S. veto of the draft resolution "is against the international consensus."

"The U.S. veto violates the legitimate international resolutions and the resolutions of the Security Council. It's a full bias to the occupation and to the aggression," said Abu Rudeineh.

The veto "leads to more isolation of the United States and will provoke the international community," he said, adding "we will carry on with our moves in the UN and all other international agencies to defend our people's rights."

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced earlier that the Palestinians will apply to the UN for full membership of the state of Palestine in response to the U.S. move on Jerusalem.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Dec. 6 declared that the U.S. recognizes Jerusalem as Israel's capital and ordered to move the U.S. embassy to the disputed holy city. This has infuriated the Palestinians and other Muslims across the world.

Israel took over East Jerusalem in the 1967 war, and declared the whole city of Jerusalem as its eternal capital in 1980. But the Palestinians insist that East Jerusalem should be the capital of their future independent state. Enditem