International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, Dec. 4, 2002

In another "first" for the United States, the Bush administration has signaled a remarkable policy shift, voting for the first time ever against UN calls for Israel to renounce Jerusalem as its capital.

The law, passed by the Knesset in 1980, recognizes Jerusalem as "the eternal and indivisible capital" of the reborn Jewish state, and is seen as a barrier by the UN to any prospective peace deal with the Palestinians.

In previous years when the issue has been raised, the US has abstained. But this year the US joined the three other nations that voted with Israel, Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Costa Rica setting itself against 154 nations from the rest of the world.

The US Ambassador to the UN, John Negroponte told the assembly that Washington would welcome resolutions reflecting "a balanced and pragmatic approach" to the conflict.

"Unfortunately, it appears that we will be considering texts that put this body in the position of attempting to prejudge the settlement of the question of Jerusalem and other final status issues," Negroponte said arguing that ultimate control of Jerusalem can only be decided by the relevant parties themselves, not through the forum of the UN.

The passing of the Jerusalem Law in 1980 led to widespread condemnation from the international community and the threat of an Arab oil embargo against any nation that retained its Embassy there. It was against this backdrop that 1400 Christians from 40 countries decided to open the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem as an act of solidarity with the Jewish people's 3000-year-old connection to the city.