Free Palestine! End the Occupation!
UN General Assembly Vote Calls on Israel to End Occupation of Palestine
On September 18, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) overwhelmingly adopted a resolution calling for an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories within a year and the imposition of sanctions for non-compliance.
The UNGA resolution was adopted by a vote of 124 countries in favour, 14 against and 43 abstentions, including Canada.
As many countries pointed out when they addressed the resolution, it affirms the justice of the Palestinian cause, and represents broad international recognition of the Palestinian people's right to self-determination as a natural, legal and historical right. The resolution takes a clear position that occupation "cannot be allowed to continue any longer."
Here are some of the reactions to the vote from countries and international organizations:
Palestine's ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour called the vote a turning point "in our struggle for freedom and justice." "It sends a clear message that Israel's occupation must end as soon as possible and that the Palestinian people's right to self-determination must be realized," he said.
Predictably, the U.S. Ambassador to the UN called the resolution "one-sided," pointing to its failure to recognize that Hamas, "a terrorist organization," still exerts power in Gaza and that Israel "has a right to defend itself." This flies in the face of the fact that an occupying power has no such inherent right and that Israel has no rights because since it was founded it is in violation of the conditions contained in its founding resolution.
"This resolution will not bring about tangible progress for Palestinians," the U.S. Ambassador said. "In fact, it could both complicate efforts to end the conflict in Gaza and impede reinvigorating steps toward a two-state solution, while ignoring Israel's very real security concerns."
Israel's ambassador to the UN said the vote was "a shameful decision that backs the Palestinian Authority's diplomatic terrorism."
"Instead of marking the anniversary of the October 7 massacre by condemning Hamas and calling for the release of all 101 of the remaining hostages, the General Assembly continues to dance to the music of the Palestinian Authority, which backs the Hamas murderers," he said.
Jasem Mohamed al-Budaiwi, the secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) –- which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates –- welcomed the UNGA's call on Israel to end its occupation of Palestine.
He said it confirmed "the right of the Palestinian people to reclaim their occupied lands" and showed that Israel's actions, including the expansion of settlements, lack recognition at regional and international levels.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which comprises 57 mostly Muslim-majority states, said the decision by the UNGA "expresses the international consensus" on the Palestinian right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent and sovereign state, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa.
It also called on the global community to "take individual and collective measures" to ensure that Israel complies with its obligations under international law.
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement: "The UN General Assembly has forcefully reaffirmed its commitment to the realization of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, including its right to an independent and sovereign State, living side by side in peace and security with Israel, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly."
The vote further isolates Israel ten days before the heads of state and government are due to attend the Annual General Assembly session on September 28.
(UN News)
This article was published in
Volume 54 Number 13 - September 20, 2024
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/ITN2024/Articles/TI54133.HTM
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