1st LD-Writethru: 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 special session on Thursday after the United States vetoed a similar draft resolution 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status or demographic composition of the Holy City of Jerusalem have no legal effect, are null and void and must be rescinded in compliance with relevant resolutions of the Security Council, and in this regard calls upon all states to refrain from the establishment of diplomatic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.

It reiterates its call for the reversal of the negative trends on the ground that are imperiling the two-state solution and for the intensification and acceleration of international and regional efforts and support aimed at achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East.

Thursday's General Assembly emergency special session was called after the United States vetoed a draft resolution on the status of Jerusalem at the Security Council on Monday. All other 14 members of the council voted in favor.

The Security Council vote was prompted by an announcement of U.S. President Donald Trump on Dec. 6 to recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital and to move the U.S. Embassy in the country from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

In UN General Assembly voting, the five permanent members of the Security Council do not have veto power.

The United States has threatened to cut aid for countries that would have voted against the Trump decisions.

U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has said she would be "taking names." Haley has also reportedly written to representatives of various countries to the United Nations to persuade them to vote against the General Assembly draft resolution.

Under a 1950 resolution, a General Assembly emergency special session can be called for all UN member states to consider a matter "with a view to making appropriate recommendations" for collective measures in case the Security Council fails to act.

The last General Assembly emergency special session was held in 2009 and Thursday's meeting is a resumption of that session as they carried the same subject of Israel's illegal actions in occupied East Jerusalem and other Palestinian territories. Enditem