RAMALLAH, June 24, 2018 (MENA) - The US has moved from supporting Israel to replacing it in the conflict with Palestine, said Palestine's Ambassador to the UN Riyadh Mansour. Despite this transition in the US role, Mansour told MENA on Sunday that the Palestinian Authority secured 129 votes against 9 in the UN General Assembly condemning Trump administration's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and calling on countries not to move their diplomatic missions to the city. The General Assembly also adopted a resolution condemning Israel's excessive use of force against Palestinians with 120 votes in favor, eight against and 45 abstentions. The diplomat lauded the Arab support of Palestine at regional and international forums, saying we are looking forward to more support and positive stances from our Arab brothers toward the Palestinian issue. As regards providing international protection to the Palestinians, he said the Palestinian Authority together with its Arab and non-Arab friends should come up with constructive suggestions of ways of providing effective international protection to the Palestinians because this is part of our struggle against the American "deal of the century". Under the deal, US President Donald Trump proposes that Abu-Dis will be the capital of a future Palestinian state instead of East Jerusalem. Also, under it the Old City will remain under full Israeli control, and, in return, Israel will withdraw from three to five Arab neighborhoods east of Jerusalem.
