Islamabad, Sep 19: 124 Nations Back End to Israel’s Occupation of Palestine.
This resolution garnered support from 124 countries, with 43 abstentions and opposition from Israel, the United States, and 12 other countries.
The resolution is set against the backdrop of ongoing conflict and is set to impact discussions at the upcoming UN gathering in New York.
Key Points:
- Resolution Details: The resolution demands Israel’s withdrawal from Palestinian territories and acknowledges the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) advisory opinion from July, which deemed Israel’s occupation illegal. The resolution also calls for an end to importing products from Israeli settlements and halting arms transfers that might be used in occupied territories.
- Voting Outcome: 124 countries supported the resolution, 43 abstained, and Israel, the United States, and 12 other countries voted against it.
- Political Context: This resolution, the first formally introduced by the Palestinian Authority since gaining more UN rights, is not binding but carries significant political and legal weight. US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield criticized it for undermining the two-state solution, while Palestinian UN Ambassador Riyad Mansour urged nations to support international law.
- Israeli Response: Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon condemned the resolution, calling it “diplomatic terrorism.”
- Background: The resolution emerges amidst ongoing conflict, including the Gaza war that began on October 7, 2023, which has caused widespread destruction and displacement. The territories in question were captured by Israel during the 1967 Middle East war and are sought by Palestinians for their future state.
The resolution’s timing, just before the annual UN gathering where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas are expected to speak, highlights its potential impact on international diplomatic efforts regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
