U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley defended President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and to move the American embassy there in remarks before the U.N. Security Council on Friday.
Haley praised the patience of the Jewish people for maintaining Jerusalem as their "spiritual home" through 3,000 years of "civilization, foreign conquest, exile, and return," adding that the city has been the capital of Israel for nearly 70 years.
"Israel, like all nations, has the right to determine its capital city," Haley said. "Jerusalem is the home of Israel's parliament, president, prime minister, supreme court, and many of its ministries. It is simple common sense that foreign embassies be located there."
"In virtually every country in the world, U.S. embassies are located in the host country's capital city," Haley said. "Israel should be no different."
Haley also clarified that, with Trump's announcement this week, the U.S. has not taken a position on Jerusalem's boundaries or borders, saying that those should be determined by the Israelis and the Palestinians in negotiations.
Haley also called out what she described as the United Nations' hostile attitude toward Israel.
"Over many years, the United Nations has outrageously been of the world's foremost centers of hostility towards Israel," Haley said. "The U.N. has done much more damage to the prospects for Middle East peace than to advance them. We will not be a party to that."
"The United States no longer stands by when Israel is unfairly attacked in the United Nations, and the United States will not be lectured to by countries that lack any credibility when it comes to treating both Israelis and Palestinians fairly," Haley said.
Haley also reemphasized America's dedication to the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians and said she expects the United States will lead that effort.