Israel rejects Jerusalem vote at UN 'house of lies', says Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday sharply criticized the UN General Assembly's planned vote, which seeks to reject US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, calling it "a house of lies".
"The State of Israel rejects this vote outright," Netanyahu said. "Jerusalem is our capital, we will continue to build there and additional embassies will move to Jerusalem."
Speaking at the opening dedication of the Assuta hospital in Ashdod, Netanyahu said that "Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, whether or not the UN recognizes this. It took 70 years for the United States to formally recognize this, and it will take years for the UN to do the same."
Netanyahu noted that various countries around the world are changing their attitude toward Israel, "and this will eventually seep into the walls of that house of lies."
On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump threatened to cut aid to countries that vote in favor of the resolution rejecting Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Wednesday, Trump also expressed support for a letter sent by US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, in which she warned member states against supporting the resolution.
The UN General Assembly is set to meet on Thursday for an emergency discussion on the unilateral American recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Turkey and Yemen requested the meeting after an Egyptian draft resolution against the recognition was presented to the Security Council and was vetoed by the United States, although the 14 other members of the council voted for it.
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