The UN General Assembly on Wednesday (18) approved a resolution drafted by the Palestinians that demands that Israel end “its illegal presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory” within 12 months.
The resolution received 124 votes in favor, while 43 countries abstained. Israel, the United States and 12 other nations voted against the proposal. There is no veto power in this body.
A General Assembly resolution is not binding, that is, the body cannot guarantee its compliance, but it has political weight.
The move isolates Israel days before world leaders travel to New York for the annual UN summit. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due to address the General Assembly on September 26, the same day as Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
The resolution welcomes an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in July, which said Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories and settlements is illegal and must end.
The advisory opinion from the United Nations’ highest court, also known as the UN Tribunal, stresses that this should be done “as soon as possible”, although the General Assembly resolution imposes a 12-month deadline.
The ICJ’s advisory opinion is also non-binding, but it carries weight under international law and could weaken support for Israel.
The General Assembly resolution also calls on countries to “take measures to cease the import of any products originating from Israeli settlements, as well as the supply or transfer of arms, ammunition and related equipment to Israel…where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that they may be used in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”
The resolution is the first to be formally introduced by the Palestinian Authority since it gained additional rights and privileges, including a seat among UN members in the assembly hall and the right to propose draft resolutions.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield urged countries to vote no on Wednesday.
The United States is a supplier of weapons to and an ally of Israel, and opposes unilateral measures that could undermine the adoption of the Two-State Solution.
Diplomats disagree on text
“Every country has a vote, and the world is watching,” Palestinian Ambassador to the United Nations Riyad Mansour told the General Assembly on Tuesday. “Please stand on the right side of history. With international law. With freedom. With peace,” he added.
Israeli UN Ambassador Danny Danon criticized the General Assembly for failing to condemn the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas fighters.
He rejected the Palestinian text, saying: “Let’s call it what it is: this resolution is diplomatic terrorism, using the tools of diplomacy not to build bridges but to destroy them.”
Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem — areas of historic Palestine that Palestinians want for a state — in the 1967 Middle East war and has since built and steadily expanded settlements in the West Bank.
On October 27 last year, the General Assembly called for an immediate humanitarian truce in Gaza with 120 votes in favor. Then in December, 153 countries voted to demand, rather than request, an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.
This content was originally published in UN General Assembly demands that Israel vacate Palestinian territories in 12 months on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
