JERUSALEM - Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas praised the UN General Assembly vote that rejected US recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Abbas calls it a victory for the Palestinians. "The vote is a victory for the Palestinians," said Nabil Abu Rdainah, spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. "We will continue our efforts at the United Nations and in all international forums to end this occupation and to build our Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital," he said as quoted by the Independent on Friday (22/12/2017). Donald Trump's decision to announce Jerusalem as the capital city makes Israel's elected officials happy but angers the Palestinians. Many believe that the Middle East peace deal should include their claim to the partial sovereignty of Jerusalem. Jerusalem contains a sacred site for Judaism and Islam, and its status has been in dispute for decades since Israel occupied the city during the Six Day War. After Trump officially announced the change, a former Palestinian negotiator said that the US president had destroyed the possibility of a two-state solution. "I think President Trump tonight disqualifies the United States to play any role in any peace process," Saeb Erekat told reporters at the time. Most of the world has the same reaction, condemning the move that critics say will hamper the Middle East peace process and weaken the role of America as a neutral mediator. The widespread rebellion was translated into formal UN action, in which many countries voted to declare the American decision "illegal and invalid". The Trump Administration has ruled out the United Nations, with the US President threatening to withhold support for countries that support the resolution. Ambassador Nikki Haley said that the US is not respected and will remember it.
