The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday adopted a Palestinian-drafted resolution that demands Israel end "its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory" within 12 months.
The non-binding vote follows a historic advisory ruling in July by the International Court of justice (ICJ) urging Israel to cease “its unlawful presence in the occupied Palestinian territory as soon as possible and stop all settlement activity there immediately”.
Wednesday's resolution passed by 124 votes to 14 with 43 abstentions.
Condemnations of Israel by the general assembly are frequent, including two resolutions passed by comparable majorities since the conflict began on 7 October, but this is the first since 1982 to advocate sanctions against Israel.
bly has additional force since it claims to be seeking to enforce an ICJ ruling. The resolution states: “Israel’s security concerns cannot override the principle of the prohibition of the acquisition of territory by force.”
It is also the first resolution tabled by Palestine since the UN general assembly voted in May by 143 to nine to upgrade Palestine’s UN observer status by giving the Palestinian delegation the right to submit resolutions. That vote came after the US had used its veto at the UN security council in April to block Palestine being given full UN status.
The latest resolution urges member states to end the import of products originating in the Israeli settlements and to stop the provision of arms, munitions and related equipment to Israel “if it is reasonable to suspect that they may be used in the occupied Palestinian territory”.
Additionally, it requires the UN general secretary, António Guterres, to report within three months on what progress he had made in urging Israel to cooperate.
The US has no veto at the general assembly, unlike on the 15-strong security council, but lobbied hard among allies to minimise size of the vote condemning Israel.
