UN overwhelmingly demands Israel end occupation of Palestinian territories

The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution that demands Israel end its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory within a year.

A total of 124 countries voted in favor, while 14, including the US, opposed the resolution. Britain, Switzerland, Ukraine, India and Germany were among the 43 countries to abstain.

The resolution welcomes a July advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice that said Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories and settlements is illegal and should be withdrawn.

The advisory opinion - by the highest United Nations court  said this should be done "as rapidly as possible."

The measure calls for Israel to pay reparations to Palestinians “for the damage caused to all the natural and legal persons concerned in the occupied Palestinian territory”.

The resolution also demands sanctions and an arms embargo against Israel.

The 193-member Assembly 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."

Riyad Mansour, Palestine's UN ambassador who opened the Assembly meeting on Tuesday, said no occupying power can have a veto right over the inalienable rights of the people under its occupation.

“Those who think the Palestinian people will accept a life of servitude, a life of apartheid, are the ones who are not being realistic,” Mansour said.

“Those who imagine the Palestinian people will disappear or surrender are the ones who are not being realistic. Those who claim that peace is possible in our region without a just resolution for the question of Palestine are the ones who are not being realistic.

"Each country has a vote, and the world is watching us," Mansour said.

"Please stand on the right side of history. With international law. With freedom. With peace."

UN General Assembly to debate resolution on ending Israeli occupation

The text is based around an advisory opinion from the ICJ calling Israel’s occupation since 1967 “unlawful”.

US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield urged countries to vote no on Wednesday. Washington, an arms supplier to and ally of Israel, has long opposed any resolution at the world body in favor of Palestine. 

Unlike the Security Council, no country in the General Assembly has veto power.

The action isolates Israel days before world leaders travel to New York for their annual UN gathering.

In May, the UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly in favor of reconsidering Palestine’s full membership. It is now recognized by 145 of the 193 member states.

Several countries, including Spain, Norway, and Ireland, recognized Palestine as a state in late May amid mounting criticism of Israel’s genocidal campaign in the besieged Gaza Strip.

While the 15-member council is largely paralyzed on the ongoing Israeli genocidal campaign in Gaza, with the United States repeatedly vetoing censures of its ally Israel, the General Assembly has adopted several texts in support of Palestinian civilians.

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