UNGA demands end of unlawful Israeli presence in Palestinian territory
The UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution demanding Israel end “its unlawful presence in the occupied Palestinian territory” within 12 months.
The resolution received 124 votes in favour while 43 countries abstained and Israel, the United States and 12 others voted no.
The action isolates Israel days before world leaders travel to New York for their annual UN gathering. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due to address the 193-member General Assembly on September 26, the same day as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
The resolution welcomes a July advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice that said Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory and settlements are illegal and should be withdrawn.
The advisory opinion by the highest UN court said this should be done “as rapidly as possible” although the General Assembly resolution imposes a 12-month deadline.
The General Assembly resolution also calls on states to “take steps towards ceasing the importation of any products originating in the Israeli settlements, as well as the provision or transfer of arms, munitions and related equipment to Israel … where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that they may be used in the Occupied Palestinian Territory”.
UNGA resolution makes crystal clear that occupation must end: Amnesty
As we reported earlier, the United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution demanding that Israel end “its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory” within 12 months.
Following the vote, Amnesty International’s Secretary General Agnes Callamard said the resolution “makes crystal clear” that Israel’s 57-year occupation “cannot be allowed to continue any longer”.
“Israel must comply with the resolution immediately by withdrawing its forces from the West Bank, including illegally annexed East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, occupied since 1967. Israel must also remove all settlers from the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and reverse its annexation, both in law and in practice,” she said.
“For decades Israel’s unlawful occupation has brought injustice, bloodshed and suffering to Palestinians on a mass scale. Over the past 11 months, the systematic human rights violations that are a hallmark of Israel’s brutal occupation and system of apartheid have drastically intensified.”
