UN General Assembly to vote on draft resolution on status of Jerusalem

UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- The UN General Assembly will vote on a draft resolution on the status of Jerusalem in a rare emergency session on Thursday after the United States vetoed a similar one at the Security Council.

The draft resolution prepared by Turkey and Yemen "affirms 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status or demographic composition of the Holy City of Jerusalem have no legal effect, are null and void and must be rescinded in compliance with the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, and in this regard, calls upon all states to refrain from the establishment of diplomatic missions in the Holy City of Jerusalem."

It further demands that all UN member states comply with Security Council resolutions regarding Jerusalem, and not recognize any actions or measures contrary to those resolutions.

Thursday's General Assembly emergency session, the 10th in history, was called after the United States vetoed a draft resolution on the status of Jerusalem at the Security Council on Monday.

The Security Council vote was prompted by an announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump on Dec. 6 to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and to relocate the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

In the General Assembly voting, the permanent members of the Security Council, including the United States, do not have veto power.

The United States has threatened to cut aid for countries that would vote against Trump's decision. U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has said she would be "taking names." Enditem