US veto of UN resolution on Jerusalem is regrettable: Russia

Moscow [Russia], Dec 20 (ANI): Russia has said that the United States veto of the United Nations resolution on Jerusalem is regrettable as Washington went against the will of international community.

The Russian Foreign Ministry in a statement on Tuesday said, "It is regrettable that the U.S., being a permanent member of the UN Security Council and claiming itself as a key mediator in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, demonstrates approaches that are contrary to the international community's will."

"This dilutes the international legal basis of the Middle Eastern settlement," the statement added.

Russian Foreign Ministry's statement comes a day after the U.S. vetoed a UNSC resolution calling for the withdrawal of President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

According to CNN, fourteen council members voted in favour of the Egyptian-sponsored resolution that would have demanded President Trump reverse course on the decision.

The U.S. was the sole dissenting vote.

A spokesman for the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, responded to the veto by saying it was "unacceptable and threatens the stability of the international community because it disrespects it".

The U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Nikki Haley described the resolution as "an insult" that would not be forgotten.

"The United States will not be told by any country where we can put our embassy," she said.

"It's scandalous to say we are putting back peace efforts," she added. "The fact that this veto is being done in defence of American sovereignty and in defence of America's role in the Middle East peace process is not a source of embarrassment for us; it should be an embarrassment to the remainder of the security council."

The move came after the President Trump unilaterally recognised Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

The one-page Egyptian draft resolution, according to local media reports, "demands that all States comply with Security Council resolutions regarding the Holy City of Jerusalem, and not to recognize any actions or measures contrary to those resolutions."

The new resolution would need at least nine votes in favour out of 15 and no vetoes by any of the UNSC permanent members to be passed.

Without any mention of the U.S. or Trump, the resolution expresses "deep regret at recent decisions concerning the status of Jerusalem".

Trump's Jerusalem move has prompted international criticism and sparked protests across the world. (ANI)