Donald TrumpNew Zealand has voted against the United States at the United Nations to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital. The UN General Assembly overwhelmingly rejected the Trump administration's decision to recognise Jerusalem, which was repeatedly criticised as undermining the prospects for peace. Despite blunt warnings of US funding cuts, 128 countries voted in favour of the nonbinding resolution and only nine voted against it. A spokesman for Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called the vote "a victory for Palestine" but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the vote. Guatemala, Honduras, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Nauru and Togo joined the United States and Israel in voting no.

Source: Otago Daily Times December 21, 2017 20:26 UTC