Yesterday, despite threats from the Trump administration that country’s who vote for a United Nation General Assembly (UNGA) resolution to declare “null and void” President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, could risk not receiving US aid, 128 UN member countries voted for the resolution.
Six Caribbean countries – Barbados, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines voted for the resolution. Six other Caribbean counties – Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago abstained from voting; while the countries of St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Lucia was absent from the assembly and did not cast votes.
In addition to the 128 UN member countries that voted in favor of the resolution, nine (the US, Israel, Guatemala, Honduras, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau and Togo) voted against and 35 abstained. The vote is seen as a victory for the Palestinians.
Following the vote, the government of Jamaica issued the following statement:
GOJ’s Statement Post Abstention on UNGA Vote
The Government of Jamaica has taken note of the recent announcement by the President of the United States of America recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel and advising of its intention to move its Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
The Government recognizes the sovereign right of states to determine their relations with others, but notes international concerns regarding the possible implications of same.
We unequivocally continue to hope for the attainment of peace and stability for the people of that region, through continued dialogue on outstanding issues.
Jamaica therefore reaffirms the statement made by Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade during the UNGA in September 2017 that, “We continue to believe that the best solution to the Israeli-Palestinian crisis rests in a negotiated political settlement based on a just, lasting and comprehensive agreement that guarantees the security of Israel and provides for a Palestinian State, within internationally recognized borders”
