UN overwhelmingly adopts resolution demanding Israel end ‘unlawful presence in Palestinian territory’

The UN General Assembly on Wednesday adopted a resolution, presented by Palestine and cosponsored by Pakistan and several other countries, that demands Israel end “its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory” within 12 months.The resolution mustered 124 votes in favour, while 43 countries abstained, and Israel, the United States and 12 others voted no.It came ahead of next week’s high-level debate in which more than 130 world leaders, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, are participating.Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are due to address the 193-member General Assembly on September 26, the same day.

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of Justice (ICJ) that said Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories and settlements is illegal, and should be withdrawn.

The ICJ’s advisory opinion 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.”The resolution is the first to be formally put forward by Palestine since it gained additional rights and privileges this month, including a seat among UN members in the Assembly hall and the right to propose draft resolutions.The vote came in the middle of its 10th emergency special session considering Israeli actions in the occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.