"America will move its embassy to Jerusalem. That's what the American people want us to do, and that's the right thing to do. No vote at the UN will make a difference. "

US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley reiterated on Thursday her threats to countries voting for a resolution condemning Washington's decision to designate Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, shortly before the election. the UN General Assembly.

"To his shame, the UN has long represented a hostile organization for the State of Israel. The current secretary general and the former denied that she was giving disproportionate attention to Israel. It is a lie that undermines the credibility of this institution and, in turn, is harmful to the entire world.

I often wondered why, faced with such hostility, Israel has chosen to remain a member of this body. Then I remembered that Israel had chosen to stay in this institution because it is important to defend oneself. Israel must defend its own survival as a nation. The country also defends the ideals of freedom and human dignity that the United Nations is supposed to represent.

Faced with you here today, forced to defend the sovereignty and integrity of my country - the United States of America - these same thoughts came to my mind. The United States is by far the largest contributor to the United Nations and its agencies. We do this, in part, to advance our values ​​and interests. Thus, our participation in the United Nations produces a great good for the world. Together, we feed, bring clothes and educate desperate people. We are trying to maintain a fragile peace in conflict zones around the world. And we hold outlaw regimes responsible. We do this because it represents who we are. This is our American way of doing things.

But we will be honest with you. When we make generous contributions to the United Nations, we also give them a legitimate expectation that our goodwill will be recognized and respected. When a nation is specifically targeted by this organization, this nation faces a lack of respect. Above all, this nation is being asked to pay for the 'privilege' of facing a lack of respect.

In the case of the United States, we are being asked to pay more than anyone to benefit from this dubious privilege. Unlike some UN member states, the US government is accountable to its citizens. As such, we have an obligation to recognize when our political and financial capital is misused.

We have an obligation to demand more for our investment. And if our investment fails, we have an obligation to spend our resources more productively. These are the thoughts that come to mind when we look at today's resolution.

The arguments regarding the president's decision to move the US embassy in Jerusalem have already been advanced. They are now well known. The decision was in accordance with US law dating back to 1995, and his position has been endorsed by the American people many times since then. The decision in no way prejudges final status issues including the boundaries of Jerusalem. This decision does not exclude a two-state solution if the parties agree on it. This decision does not attack peace efforts. The decision of the president reflects rather the will of the American people and our right, as a nation, to choose the location of our embassy. There is no need to develop this further.

Instead, there is one more important point to note. The United States will remember that day which saw them pilloried by the General Assembly for the sole exercise of our sovereign country right. We will remember when we are asked once again to make the largest (financial) contribution to the United Nations. And we will remember when many countries come to ask us, as they so often do, to pay even more and use our influence to their advantage.

America will move its embassy to Jerusalem. That's what the American people want us to do, and that's the right thing to do. No vote at the UN will make a difference.

But this vote will make a difference on how Americans view the United Nations and how we view the countries that we disrespect the United Nations. This vote will be remembered. "

Source: ©  Speech by Nikki Haley, US ambassador to the UN, before the vote

Discours de Nikki Haley, ambassadrice des Etats-Unis à l’ONU, avant le vote added by RichardA on 22 December 2017
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