British Prime Minister Theresa May telephoned U.S. President Donald Trump Tuesday and discussed his recent decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, which prompted the United Nations General Assembly to convene a rare emergency meeting at the request of Arab and Muslim states.
The phone call was first disclosed by a Downing Street spokesperson, who said the two leaders discussed their "different positions" on Jerusalem. The phone call occurred one day after May and leaders of 13 other U.N. Security Council member nations voted in favor of a resolution that calls on Trump's declaration to be withdrawn. The U.S. vetoed the resolution.
The 193-member U.N. General Assembly will vote on the resolution Thursday, according to Palestinian U.N. envoy Riyad Mansour. A vote such as this is non-binding but it does carry political weight.
May and Trump also discussed their "ongoing deep concerns" about the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, the spokesperson said. A senior U.N. official said on Monday that warring factions must allow more aid to get through to nearly 8.5 million people who are "a step away from famine" in Yemen.
"They agreed on the vital importance of reopening humanitarian and commercial access to prevent famine and alleviate the suffering of innocent Yemenis," the spokesperson said.
May updated Trump on "the recent good progress" of Brexit talks and "agreed on the importance of a swift post-Brexit bilateral trade deal," according to the spokesperson, while Trump outlined "the progress he had made on his economic agenda."
May, Trump Discuss US Jerusalem Recognition
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley vetos an Egyptian-drafted resolution regarding recent decisions on the status of Jerusalem, during the United Nations Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including Palestine, at U.N. Headquarters in New York City, New York, U.S., Dec. 18, 2017.