Photo taken on Dec. 21, 2017 shows the voting of a United Nations General Assembly resolution on the status of Jerusalem during a rare emergency special session at the UN headquarters in New York. The General Assembly on Thursday adopted a resolution on the status of Jerusalem that will make U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital have no legal effect. (Xinhua Photo)

JERUSALEM, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- Israel rejected Thursday a United Nations overwhelming endorsement of a resolution calling the United States to withdraw its recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Earlier in the evening, the UN General Assembly approved the decision, with 128 nations voting in favor, nine against, and 35 abstentions.

"Israel rejects the UN resolution," the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement, adding that Israel is "pleased by the high number of countries that have not voted in favor of the resolution."

The notice said that "Israel thanks President (Donald) Trump for his firm stance in favor of Jerusalem and thanks the countries that voted together with Israel, together with the truth."

A similar resolution was vetoed by the U.S. in the UN Security Council on Monday, but there are no veto rights at the General Assembly.

Prior to the vote, Trump and U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley threatened to withdraw financial aid from countries which will support the resolution.

On Dec. 6, Trump declared that the U.S. recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital and will move the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, triggering large-scale outrage in the Arab and Muslim world.