US President Donald Trump described countries which are against his move to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel as “enemies of America” and urged the Congress to cut financial aids to these countries.
“Dozens of countries voted in the United Nations General Assembly against America’s sovereign right to make this recognition,” he said in his speech at the State of the Union address on Tuesday.
“American taxpayers generously send those same countries billions of dollars in aid every year. That is why, tonight, I am asking the Congress to pass legislation to help ensure American foreign-assistance dollars always serve American interests, and only go to America’s friends,” he added.
Trump’s announcement on December 6 to move the US embassy to the Holy City from Tel Aviv and make Jerusalem the capital of Israel was internationally condemned.
The UN General Assembly (UNGA) voted the declaration as “null and void”.
Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital has also sparked protests in many countries across the world.
