RAMALLAH, December 21, 2017 (WAFA) – Palestinians expect a sweeping vote when the United Nations General Assembly discusses a resolution on Jerusalem later Thursday in spite of US threats.

The United Nations General Assembly is scheduled to hold a session under the “United for Peace” term to vote on a resolution calling for the annulment of a US decision recognizing Jerusalem as capital of Israel.

The United States vetoed on Monday a similar resolution brought before the UN Security Council.

The Islamic Group, led by the Non-Aligned Movement and the Arab Group at the United Nations, held intensive meetings in the past two days to rally the support of the largest number of countries in favor of the resolution after US President Donald Trump threatened to halt financial aid to countries voting for the Palestinian draft resolution.

Member of Fatah Central Committee, Jamal Muheisen, said that the US president‘s threats to cut off aid to countries if they voted for the resolution on Jerusalem in the General Assembly are “a cheap way to extort these countries.”

He said in an interview with the official Voice of Palestine radio on Thursday that these threats would not affect the member states who are expected to cast a for vote to prove that the world is fed up with Trump’s bullying policies.

Assistant Foreign Minister for Multilateral Affairs, Ammar Hijazi, expected that there will be a sweeping support from all the members of the General Assembly for the draft resolution on Jerusalem.

He described Trump’s threats as unprecedented in international relations and reach the level of bullying and blackmail.

The General Assembly passed by overwhelming majority on Wednesday a resolution reaffirming the right of the Palestinian people to have sovereignty over their natural resources. Last Tuesday, the assembly voted overwhelmingly to affirm the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.

M.K.