US envoy to hold 'friendship' reception over UN vote

U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley sent an invitation to the countries that supported the U.S. against a UN General Assembly resolution on Jerusalem.

The invitation asked the representatives of the 65 countries that voted no, abstained or were absent "to a reception to thank you for your friendship to the United States" on Jan. 3.

The UN on Thursday overwhelmingly adopted a resolution on Jerusalem, calling on the U.S. to withdraw its recognition of the city as Israel's capital, despite threats by the U.S. President Donald Trump to cut aid to those countries who voted against the move.

On Tuesday, Haley warned members of the UN General Assembly, saying that President Trump was "watching" the voting. "At the UN we're always asked to do more and give more."

"So, when we make a decision, at the will of the American ppl [people], abt [about] where to locate OUR embassy, we don't expect those we've helped to target us. On Thursday there'll be a vote criticizing our choice. The U.S. will be taking names," she said on Twitter.

The full 193-member UN General Assembly met for a rare emergency special session regarding U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Unlike at the Security Council, the U.S. has no veto power in the assembly.

A total of 128 members voted in favor of the resolution while nine countries voted against it and 35 others abstained. Twenty-one countries did not cast a vote.

Israel, Honduras, Togo, U.S., Palau, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, and Guatemala voted against the Jerusalem resolution.