By 124 votes to 14, with 43 abstentions, the resolution calls on Israel to abide by international law and withdraw its military forces, immediately cease all new settlement activity, evacuate all settlers from the occupied territory and dismantle parts of the separation barrier it has built in the occupied West Bank.
The General Assembly further demanded that Israel return land and other “immovable property,” as well as all property confiscated since the occupation began in 1967, and all cultural property and assets taken from Palestinians and Palestinian institutions.
The resolution also demands that Israel allow all Palestinians displaced during the occupation to return to their hometowns and repair the damage caused by the occupation.
The resolution stems from the advisory advice issued by the International Court of Justice (IGH) in July, in which the court declared that Israel’s continued presence in the area was “unlawful” and that “all States are obliged not to recognize the decades-long occupation.”
Click here for the full text of the resolution and here for our live report of the meeting.
Threat to peace and security
The Assembly “strongly condemned the continued and utter disregard and violations” by the Government of Israel of its obligations under the UN Charterinternational law and UN resolutions, stressing that such violations “seriously threaten” regional and international peace and security.
It also recognized that Israel “must be held accountable for any violations” of international law in the occupied Palestinian territories, including international humanitarian and human rights law.
The text says that Israel “must bear the legal consequences of all its internationally wrongful acts, including making reparations for the damage, including all damage, caused by such acts.”
The General Assembly stressed the need for the establishment of an international reparations mechanism to compensate for damage, loss or injury caused by Israel’s actions.
There were also calls for the establishment of an international register of damage caused, to document evidence and related claims.
International conference
The resolution also includes a decision to convene an international conference during the current session of the General Assembly to implement the UN resolutions relating to the question of Palestine and the two-state solution for the achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East.
In addition, the General Assembly requested the UN Secretary-General to present proposals for a mechanism to follow up on violations by Israel of Article 3 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, as established by the ICJ.
Article 3 concerns racial segregation and apartheid and the undertaking of States Parties to the International Covenant to prevent, prohibit and eradicate all such practices in the areas under their jurisdiction.
UN Photo/Evan Schneider
The General Assembly votes on a draft resolution on the ICJ’s advice.
Call to States
In its resolution, the General Assembly calls on all UN member states to fulfil their obligations under international law and take concrete steps to address Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
The Assembly urged States not to recognise Israel’s presence in the Territory as legitimate and to ensure that they do not provide aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by the occupation. This includes taking measures to prevent their nationals, companies and entities under their jurisdiction from engaging in activities that support or maintain Israel’s occupation.
In addition, the General Assembly called on States to stop the import of products originating from Israeli settlements and to halt the transfer of arms, ammunition and related equipment to Israel in cases where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that they might be used in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
In addition, the resolution urged States to implement sanctions, such as travel bans and asset freezes, against individuals and entities involved in maintaining Israel’s unlawful presence in the area. This includes addressing issues related to settler violence and ensuring that those involved in these activities face legal and financial consequences.
Adjournment
Finally, the General Assembly temporarily adjourned its tenth emergency session and granted the following authorization: Chairman of the General Assembly to resume the meeting at the request of the Member States.
The extraordinary session is a continuation of the tenth emergency session of the General Assembly, which last met in May amid the ongoing crisis in Gazawhere it is a solutionestablishing additional rights for the participation of the State of Palestine in meetings of the Assembly.
That resolution did not give Palestine the right to vote or submit its candidacy to the main UN bodies such as the Security Council or the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC programme).
Membership of the State of Palestine, which requires a specific recommendation from the Security Council, was also not granted.