On September 18, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), in an emergency special session, overwhelmingly adopted a resolution calling for an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories within a year.
The UNGA resolution was adopted by a vote of 124 countries in favour, 14 against and 43 abstentions. India was one of the countries which abstained.
The General Assembly called upon Israel to implement without delay the judgement of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) by withdrawing all military forces, stopping all new settlement activity, evacuating all settlers, dismantling parts of the wall that are located inside Palestinian territory and repealing laws that legalise this illegal activity.
The General Assembly declared that Israel was accountable for any violations of international law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. It called for the establishment of an international mechanism for reparations for damage, loss, or injury caused by Israel’s actions. It decided to convene an international conference during its current session to implement UN resolutions pertaining to the question of Palestine and the two-State solution for the achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East.
The General Assembly called on member states to halt the transfer of weapons to Israel which could be used against the Palestinian people. It called upon member countries to implement sanctions, such as travel bans and asset freezes, against individuals and entities involved in maintaining Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory.
The resolution affirms the justness of the Palestinian cause, and represents overwhelming international recognition of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination as a natural, legal and historical right. It clearly brings out that Israel is an occupying power which has been illegally occupying the territory of the Palestinian nation. It must forthwith end this occupation, and it must be made to pay for the crimes it has committed against the Palestinian people.
The Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations welcomed the resolution saying that it takes a clear position that occupation “cannot be allowed to continue any longer.”
The Resolution of the UN General Assembly is non-binding. There is no mechanism by which the UNGA can ensure that it is implemented on the ground.
The 124 countries that voted for the resolution includes the vast majority of countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America. It must be noted that France and Japan voted for the resolution.
The 14 countries that voted against the resolution included the US and Israel.
India’s abstaining from voting on this resolution, shows the completely unprincipled, anti-people, and pragmatic stand of the Indian ruling class. The 42 other countries who abstained were mainly European countries.
The struggle of the Palestinian people for their national rights is a just struggle. It deserves the support of all progressive humankind.
The illegal occupation of Palestinian land, and the genocidal war being waged by Israel to wipe out the Palestinian nation, deserves condemnation from all progressive humankind.