The UN Security Council debates a resolution on Jerusalem, Dec. 18, 2017. Photo: Reuters / Brendan McDermid.

The US decision on Monday to veto a UN Security Council resolution on Jerusalem sparked by President Donald Trump’s December 6 decision to recognize the holy city as Israel’s capital drew strong praise from some American Jewish groups.

“We strongly applaud Ambassador Nikki Haley and the Trump Administration for defending its decision and for once again standing by its ally, Israel,” said Mark (Moishe) Bane, the president of the Orthodox Union (OU). “Jerusalem has been the political, cultural and spiritual homeland of the Jewish people for thousands of years, and it is truly shameful for the international community to once again attempt to deny this.”

Orthodox Union Executive Director for Public Policy Nathan Diament stated: “Coming almost exactly one year after the prior Administration abstained from an anti-Israel resolution in the Security Council (Res. 2334) — the veto cast by Ambassador Haley, and her powerful statement that this Administration would have cast a veto one year ago, is a welcome affirmation that the U.S. is standing strongly by Israel.”

The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) also praised the administration.

“We applaud President Donald Trump and Ambassador Nikki Haley for their firm action to veto this U.N. Security Council resolution,” said RJC National Chairman, Sen. Norm Coleman. “Jerusalem is the capital of Israel; U.S. policy recognizes that simple reality. With this veto, the U.S. made a principled stand for truth, justice, and peace.”

RJC  Executive Director Matt Brooks added, “We are proud to have a President who stands with Israel, who fights back against distortions and anti-Israel hatred in the international arena, and who defends American sovereignty and the sovereignty of our allies.”