Turkish FM Slams US Over ‘Bullying’ UN Members For Jerusalem Vote

Hours before the U.N. General Assembly approved a motion rejecting U.S. move to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, Turkey’s top diplomat slammed the U.S. over bullying and threatening U.N. member states for the vote.

“Before this meeting, a U.N. member state threatened all other members, we were all asked to vote “No” or face the consequences… This is bullying,” Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said at a speech at the General Assembly.

In a non-binding vote at the General Assembly, members states approved a draft resolution, rejecting the President Donald J. Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

The resolution was accepted by 128 votes in favor and nine against, while 35 countries abstained from the vote.

Mr. Trump drew ire from the international community when threatened to cut aid funds to countries if they vote in favor of the U.N. resolution against the U.S.

“No honorable state would bow to such pressure,” the Turkish foreign minister said. “The world has changed. The belief that ‘I am strong therefore I am right’ has changed. The world today is revolting against injustices,” CBS News quoted Mr. Cavusoglu as saying.

Earlier in the day, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sharply criticized the U.S. over threatening remarks.

“Mr. Trump, you cannot but with dollars Turkey’s democratic will. Our decision is clear,” he said.

“I call on the whole world: Don’t you dare sell your democratic struggle and your will for petty dollars,” the president said in disparaging remarks in Ankara.

After the vote, Turkish foreign minister celebrated the result.

Common sense prevailed at United Nations today.
The nations said yes to #Palestine; and no to injustice.#UNGA #AlQuds pic.twitter.com/tgAH4ydmLn

— Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu (@MevlutCavusoglu) December 21, 2017