The United States yesterday vetoed a draft UN resolution rejecting President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, after all 14 other Security Council members backed the measure, reports AFP. The veto cast by US Ambassador Nikki Haley highlighted Washington's isolation over Trump's announcement that the US embassy will be moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, effectively ignoring Palestinian claims on the city. The policy shift by the Republican president, announced earlier this month, broke with international consensus, triggering protests and strong condemnation.

Key US allies Britain, France, Italy, Japan and Ukraine were among the 14 countries in the 15-member council that backed the measure asserting that any decisions on the status of Jerusalem "have no legal effect, are null and void and must be rescinded." "The United States will not be told by any country where we can put our embassy," Haley told the council after the veto.

"What we witnessed here today in the Security Council is an insult. It won't be forgotten," she said, describing the measure as "one more example of the United Nations doing more harm than good in addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."

Egypt put forward the draft resolution, which insists that Jerusalem is an issue "to be resolved through negotiations" between Israel and the Palestinians and expresses "deep regret at recent decisions concerning the status of Jerusalem" -- without specifically mentioning Trump's move.

The United States along with Britain, China, France and Russia can veto any resolution presented to the council, which requires nine votes for adoption.

"Thank you, Ambassador Haley," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Twitter.