UN Resolution Asks Israel to End 'Unlawful Presence' in Palestine
The UN General Assembly passed a non-binding resolution on Wednesday calling for Israel to 'end without delay its unlawful presence' in Palestinian areas within 12 months....
Facts
- The UN General Assembly passed a non-binding resolution on Wednesday calling for Israel to 'end without delay its unlawful presence' in Palestinian areas within 12 months.[1][2]
- There were 124 votes in favor and 14 votes against the measure, along with 43 abstentions. Among those in opposition were Israel itself and its closest ally, the US.[3][4]
- Israel has been demanded to also evacuate all settlers and make reparations to Palestinians for damages, with calls for an embargo on arms that Israel might use in those areas.[1][5]
- The resolution is the first to be put forward by Palestine since gaining additional rights and privileges to its observer status this month, and marks the first time since 1982 that the General Assembly supports sanctions against Israel.[6][7]
- This comes as the International Court of Justice issued an advisory opinion in July declaring Israeli presence illegal in any area beyond the 1949 armistice line — including in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip.[2][8]
- Israel captured the West Bank and East Jerusalem from Jordan and the Gaza Strip from Egypt in the 1967 Six-Day War, and considers these territories to be on disputed land rather than occupied.[9][5][3]
Sources: [1]UN News, [2]BBC News, [3]Al Jazeera, [4]Associated Press, [5]Timesofisrael, [6]Reuters, [7]Guardian, [8]Jewish News Syndicate and [9]Washington Post.
Narratives
- Pro-Palestine narrative, as provided by Amnesty International. The international community must hold Israel accountable for its occupation of Palestinian territories, and an arms embargo will prove crucial to safeguard global legal standards and cease humanitarian crises. It's time for nations to take decisive steps against Israel to protect Palestinian lives and uphold international law.
- Pro-Israel narrative, as provided by The Times. UN officials have in the past virtually justified Hamas' terrorism by pointing to an alleged 'suffocating occupation' in a blatant show of a systemic bias against Israel. Influenced by nations like Russia, China, and some Muslim-majority states, the UN keeps portraying Israel as an oppressor while downplaying atrocities committed by groups like Hamas.
