<\/p>\n
20 November 2024<\/p>\n
Seventy-ninth Session,
\n29th Meeting (PM)<\/p>\n
Concluding its work for the current session, the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) approved five texts today, four of which were draft resolutions concerning Israel and Palestine, which took recorded votes.<\/p>\n
The text on \u201cIsraeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan\u201d (document\u00a0A\/C.4\/79\/L.16<\/a><\/em>) was approved by a recorded vote of 152\u00a0in favour to 9\u00a0against (Argentina, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Hungary, Israel, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, United States), with 19\u00a0abstentions.<\/strong><\/p>\n By its terms, the General Assembly would demand that Israel, the occupying Power, comply with its legal obligations, as mentioned in the 2024 advisory opinions by the International Court of Justice, including to bring an end to its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as rapidly as possible, to cease immediately all new settlement activities and to evacuate all settlers from the Occupied Palestinian Territory. \u00a0Further, it would stress Israel\u2019s responsibility as the occupying Power, to investigate all acts of settler violence against Palestinian civilians.<\/p>\n After approval, the observer for the State of Palestine said it \u201csends a crucial message of hope to our people that the world has not abandoned or forsaken them\u201d. \u00a0Noting that the speaking time allotted to her delegation would not allow her to \u201cread out the names of the 17,000\u00a0Palestinian children killed by Israel\u201d,\u00a0she said today\u2019s votes show the international community\u2019s absolute opposition to Israel\u2019s illegal settlement and colonization of occupied Palestine and reaffirms the global demand for accountability.<\/p>\n Also approved today \u2014 by a recorded vote of 152\u00a0in favour to 5\u00a0against (Argentina, Israel, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, United States), with 23\u00a0abstentions \u2014 was a text concerning the occupied Syrian Golan (document\u00a0A\/C.4\/79\/L.15<\/a><\/em>), which would have the Assembly call on Israel to desist from changing the physical character, demographic composition, institutional structure and legal status of the occupied Syrian Golan and to desist from establishing settlements.\u00a0 It would further call on Israel to desist from imposing Israeli citizenship and identity cards on Syrian citizens in the occupied Syrian Golan.<\/strong><\/p>\n Welcoming that approval,\u00a0Syria\u2019s delegate said all measures taken by Israel to change the status of the Syrian Golan are null.\u00a0 He stressed the need to end the forced displacements, demographic changes, illegal settlements, and other serious human rights violations.\u00a0 \u201cThe Golan will remain Syrian and will be kept within its motherland,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Both texts were jointly introduced by the representatives of Namibia and Cuba.\u00a0 Noting that settlements and other illegal practices have intensified over the past year, Namibia\u2019s delegate pointed to the catastrophic situation in Gaza, which has been described as \u201chell on earth\u201d and \u201capocalyptic\u201d. \u00a0Israel\u2019s actions have intentionally sought to cause death, he said, emphasizing that these drafts \u00a0are aimed at ending Israel\u2019s occupation, which, at 57\u00a0years, is the longest in modern history.<\/p>\n Cuba\u2019s delegate noted that Israel has occupied the Syrian Golan for more than 50\u00a0years, systematically violating the human rights of its people and seeking to control and seize their resources.\u00a0He said \u201cL.16\u201d reaffirms the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force and the applicability of the Fourth Geneva Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. \u00a0He highlighted the\u00a0International Court of Justice\u2019s advisory opinion of 19 July deeming \u201cunlawful\u201d Israel\u2019s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.<\/p>\n Speaking in explanation of position,\u00a0the representative of Australia called on Israel to respond substantively to the court\u2019s advisory opinion, while\u00a0the representative of the Netherlands said Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are illegal under international law. \u00a0She added that those responsible for the destruction of homes and property, attacks and intimidation against Palestinians in the West Bank must be brought to justice.<\/p>\n The representative of Canada, voicing support for Israel\u2019s right to defend itself, added that his delegation voted in favour of the resolution to signal deep concerns over the unrestrained expansion of Israeli settlements and impunity with which extremist settler violence has been treated. \u00a0The United Kingdom\u2019s delegate, who also voted in favour,\u00a0voiced grave concern that an increasing number of Israeli settlers are using intimidation and violence to pressure Palestinian communities to leave their land. \u00a0His country has imposed sanctions on extremist Israeli groups and individuals for violence in the West Bank, he added.<\/p>\n Iran\u2019s representative welcomed the adoptions and proposed that all Palestinians including those in diaspora determine their future in a referendum.\u00a0 Citing Israel\u2019s history of occupation, brutality and flagrant violations of Palestinians\u2019 rights, he said its racism and genocide are \u201cposing a uniquely grave threat to regional and international peace and security\u201d.<\/p>\n The Committee also approved a draft resolution on \u201cAssistance to Palestine refugees\u201d (document\u00a0A\/C.4\/79\/L.13<\/a><\/em>), by a recorded vote of 165\u00a0in favour to 3\u00a0against (Argentina, Israel, Tonga), with 9\u00a0abstentions (Cameroon, Federated States of Micronesia, Liberia, Nauru, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, United States).<\/strong><\/p>\n By its terms, the Assembly would affirm the need for the continuation of the work of the Â鶹APP Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and the importance of its unimpeded operation. \u00a0It would call on all donors to strengthen their efforts to meet the Agency\u2019s anticipated needs, including with regard to increased expenditures and demands arising from conflicts and instability in the region, as well as those cited in recent emergency, recovery and reconstruction appeals and plans for the Gaza Strip.<\/p>\n Also approved today was a text concerning \u201cPalestine refugees\u2019 properties and their revenues (document\u00a0A\/C.4\/79\/L.14<\/a>), by a recorded vote of 162\u00a0in favour to 6\u00a0against (Argentina, Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Nauru, Tonga, United States), with 10\u00a0abstentions (Cameroon, Fiji, Liberia, Madagascar, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Togo, Tuvalu).<\/p>\n It would have the Assembly request the Secretary-General to take all appropriate steps, in consultation with the Â鶹APP Conciliation Commission for Palestine, for the protection of Arab property, assets and property rights in Israel and call once again upon Israel to render all facilities and assistance to the Secretary-General to implement this.<\/p>\n The representatives of South Africa and Indonesia introduced those two texts \u2014 the former underscored the need to support UNRWA in light of the ongoing assault by Israel on its \u201cpersonnel, premises, operations and mandate\u201d. \u00a0Noting that mass starvation, famine, disease, and displacement have led to people seeking shelter in UNRWA schools and other facilities, he condemned Israel\u2019s deliberate campaign to bring the Agency to collapse.<\/p>\n Indonesia\u2019s delegate said\u00a0\u201cL.13\u201d acknowledges UNRWA\u2019s commitment to operate in line with the humanitarian principles of neutrality, humanity, independence and impartiality, while \u201cL.14\u201d reaffirms that Palestinian refugees are entitled to their properties and the income derived from them.<\/p>\n Israel\u2019s delegate denounced the texts as \u201cdistorted and one-sided resolutions born of a deeply flawed and destructive political agenda\u201d. \u00a0None of the resolutions address the threat of terror and its infiltration of a UN agency, she said. \u00a0Hamas\u2019 heinous 7\u00a0October\u00a02023 massacre resulted in the loss of 1,200\u00a0innocent lives \u2014 410\u00a0days later, 101\u00a0hostages remain in captivity. \u00a0As none of the resolutions to be voted on today addressed the suffering of the hostages, \u201cwe shall be their voice,\u201d she stated.\u00a0 The resolutions ignore Hamas\u2019 relentless cruelty and diversion of humanitarian aid to fund its terrorist activities.\u00a0 Their sole purpose is to weaponize the UN against the only Jewish State and democracy in the Middle East. \u00a0Her delegation\u2019s vote against the resolutions is in defence of \u201cour people, our homes, our lives and our right to exist\u201d.<\/p>\n The representative of the United States, who voted against three of the drafts submitted today and abstained on the one concerning UNRWA, said that \u201cone-sided resolutions will not help to advance a durable peace\u201d. \u00a0He reiterated the call on the\u00a0Secretary-General\u00a0to facilitate an independent mechanism to address all allegations that UNRWA personnel have ties to Hamas or other militant groups. \u00a0\u201cNobody, including Palestinians in need, benefits from these allegations remaining unresolved,\u201d he said, underscoring the need to end the conflict and bring the hostages home \u2014 including the seven\u00a0Americans held by Hamas.<\/p>\n Canada\u2019s delegate said that although there are too many resolutions on this conflict and \u201cwe oppose initiatives at the UN and in other multilateral fora that unfairly single out Israel\u201d, his delegation voted in favour of supporting UNRWA because of its concerns about the direct attacks on the Agency, its mandate and its staff over the last year.\u00a0Throughout the current crisis, which began with Hamas’ horrific terrorist attacks on 7\u00a0October 2023, the Agency has been \u201cthe backbone of the critical and life-saving humanitarian response in Gaza\u201d. \u00a0Noting the legislation passed by the Israeli Knesset which threatens the Agency\u2019s work, he said that in the days prior to the legislation’s passage, Canada and international partners urged the Government to not go down that path.<\/p>\n Speaking after the approval of those texts, the observer for the State of Palestine thanked delegates for reaffirming the global consensus on UNRWA, which is rooted in decades of UN resolutions on Palestine. \u00a0Contrary to the offensive and baseless claims by some, they are \u201cfar from one-sided or biased\u201d. \u00a0The overwhelming support is a clear rejection of Israel\u2019s campaign to eliminate UNRWA and deny the refugee status and rights of Palestinian refugees, she said.<\/p>\n Acting without a vote at the end of the meeting, the Committee approved a draft decision titled \u201cProposed programme of work and timetable of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) for the eightieth session of the General Assembly\u201d (document\u00a0A\/C.4\/79\/L.17<\/a><\/em>). \u00a0Concluding the session, the Chair noted that the Committee had adopted a total of 33\u00a0draft resolutions and 5\u00a0draft decisions over the course of 29\u00a0formal meetings.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 20 November 2024 Seventy-ninth Session, 29th Meeting (PM) Concluding its work for the current session, the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) approved five texts today, four of which were draft resolutions concerning Israel and Palestine, which took recorded votes. The text on \u201cIsraeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and […]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":299,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"country":[],"document-category":[1329],"document-source":[1365,5618],"committee-meeting":[],"document-subject":[1769,1945,2005,1741,1745],"entity":[1729],"document-language":[6542],"class_list":["post-303505","document","type-document","status-publish","hentry","document-category-press-release","document-source-general-assembly","document-source-general-assembly-fourth-committee-special-political-and-decolonization","document-subject-armed-conflict","document-subject-assistance","document-subject-gaza-strip","document-subject-human-rights-and-international-humanitarian-law","document-subject-refugees-and-displaced-persons","entity-united-nations-system","document-language-english"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/303505","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/document"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/299"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/303505\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":303552,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/303505\/revisions\/303552"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=303505"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"country","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/country?post=303505"},{"taxonomy":"document-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-category?post=303505"},{"taxonomy":"document-source","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-source?post=303505"},{"taxonomy":"committee-meeting","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/committee-meeting?post=303505"},{"taxonomy":"document-subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-subject?post=303505"},{"taxonomy":"entity","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/entity?post=303505"},{"taxonomy":"document-language","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-language?post=303505"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}