Speaking at an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Friday, U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley refused to back down from the United States’ commitment to recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, asserting, “We must recognize that the prospect of peace is advanced, not set back,” by President Trump’s move to do so. She said bluntly, “I understand the concerns that members have in calling this session. Change is hard.” She added that the United States was more committed to peace “than we’ve ever been before — and we believe we might be closer to that goal than ever before.”
The declaration from Trump affirms that “all parties are honest with each other” as “for nearly 70 years, Jerusalem has been the capital of the State of Israel” regardless of U.S. recognition, Haley said. She said the recognition was based on “common sense.”
Haley pointed out that people using Washington’s actions as an excuse for violence were “only showing” they had no desire for peace. She cited past Israeli-Palestinian agreements that had been signed on the White House lawn, and said that if a new agreement arose, there would be “a good likelihood” it will be signed at the White House “because the United States has credibility of both sides.”
Haley also lauded the Jewish People’s attachment to Jerusalem “through 3,000 years of exile,” calling Jews “patient.”
In addition, Haley took no prisoners when it came to the traditional hatred the U.N. has displayed for Israel, saying that the organization always targets Israel for criticism and has “done much more damage for the prospects of peace than to advance it.”
