JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the United Nations as a "house of lies" ahead of a vote on Thursday on a draft resolution calling on the United States to withdraw its recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. "The State of Israel totally rejects this vote, even before (the resolution's) approval," Netanyahu said in a speech at a hospital dedication in the port city of Ashdod. Trump threatened on Wednesday to cut off financial aid to countries that vote in favour of the U.N. draft resolution, and his ambassador to the world body, Nikki Haley said the United States "will be taking names". He repeated his prediction that other countries would eventually follow Washington's lead in pledging to move their embassies from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Israel considers Jerusalem its eternal and indivisible capital and wants all embassies based there.

Source: The Star December 21, 2017 10:20 UTC