UN General Assembly calls for end to Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories

The UN General Assembly on Wednesday, September 18, called for an end to the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories and called for sanctions against Israel. This resolution, debated since Tuesday by the 193 member states of the UN, follows the opinion of the International Court of Justice which, in July, had considered that “Israel’s continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory is unlawful” and that Israel is “under the obligation to put an end to it (…) as soon as possible”.

The text, adopted by 124 votes in favour, 14 against (including Israel, the United States, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Argentina) and 43 abstentions, “required” that Israel “put an end to his illegal presence without delay” in the Palestinian territories and that it be done “no later than 12 months after the adoption of this resolution”. The first draft text gave only six months. An adoption “historical”, has praised the Palestinian mission to the UN on X.

The Hebrew state is also being asked to withdraw Israeli forces from Palestinian territories, to stop new settlements, to return seized land and property, and to allow displaced Palestinians to return.

The resolution also calls on member states to take steps to end imports from settlements and the supply of arms to Israel if there are grounds for doing so. “reasonable” to think that they could be used in the Palestinian territories. And to take sanctions against those involved “to the maintenance of the illicit presence of Israel”in the occupied territories.

Enough to provoke the anger of Israel. “The political theater that goes by the name of the General Assembly has today adopted a biased decision that is disconnected from reality, encourages terrorism and harms the chances of peace (…), this is what cynicism looks like in international politics”Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein denounced on X.