Jordanians slam Trump, hail UN Jerusalem vote

By Laith al-Junaidi

AMMAN

For the third consecutive Friday, Jordanians took to the streets to protest U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

Demonstrations were reported in Jordan’s northern Jarash and Irbid provinces, the central Al-Zarqa province, the southern Al-Tafilah province and in the Hittin refugee camp in Amman’s Qweismeh district.

In Irbid, hundreds of demonstrators -- including several prominent political figures -- marched from the Nuh al-Qudah Mosque in the city center to the Isharat al-Iskan district on Irbid’s outskirts.

On Dec. 6, Trump unilaterally announced his decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, drawing widespread regional and international condemnation.

On Thursday, however, the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly endorsed a non-binding resolution calling on the U.S. to reverse the decision.

Of the assembly’s 193 member-states, 128 voted in favor of the resolution, nine -- including the U.S. and Israel -- voted against and 35 abstained.

"I salute the universal humanity that stood against Trump's inhumane decision,” Naim Khasawneh, deputy head of Jordan’s Islamic Action Front, told Anadolu Agency during the demonstration in Irbid.