Washington, December 21 (RHC)-- U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to discontinue financial aid to countries that vote in favor of a draft United Nations resolution against his decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.  Speaking to reporters at the White House on Wednesday, Trump said: "They take hundreds of millions of dollars and even billions of dollars, and then they vote against us.  Well, we're watching those votes.  Let them vote against us.  We'll save a lot.  We don't care."  
 
Arab and Muslim states have requested that the 193-nation assembly hold an emergency special meeting on Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s “capital,” days after Washington used its veto power to block an Egypt-drafted resolution against the move at the UN Security Council.
 
On Tuesday, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley, in a letter to dozens of the world body’s member states, warned that Washington would remember those who voted for the measures.  The U.S. vetoed a UN Security Council’s resolution for the annulment of President Donald Trump’s Jerusalem decision.  “The president will be watching this vote carefully and has requested I report back on those countries who voted against us.  We will take note of each and every vote on this issue,” read the letter seen by Reuters.  She also echoed the warning in a Twitter post, saying, the US will be “taking names” of the countries that support the resolution.
 
In a diplomatic blow to Israel, the UN General Assembly on Tuesday voted 176-7 in favor of a resolution reaffirming the Palestinians’ right to self-determination.
 
On December 6th, Donald Trump announced his decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and relocate the U.S. embassy in occupied lands from Tel Aviv to East Jerusalem.
 
It is difficult to see how Trump could deliver on his threat to cut financial assistance, since it could involve cutting off aid to a number of strategic allies.  The United States has given $77.4 billion in foreign aid to Egypt between 1948 and 2016, according to the Congressional Research Service, including about $1.3 billion in annual military aid since 1987.