On September 18, local time, the United Nations General Assembly voted to pass the draft resolution on Israel’s advisory opinion on the occupied Palestinian territories at the tenth emergency special session to discuss the Palestinian-Israeli issue, requiring Israel to end its illegal presence in the occupied Palestinian territories within 12 months after the adoption of the resolution.
In the vote, 124 votes were in favor, 14 votes were against by the United States, Israel and others, and 43 abstentions. China voted in favor. This is the first time that the State of Palestine has proposed a draft resolution in the General Assembly as a UN observer. At the General Assembly meeting in May this year, member states passed the resolution with a high vote, granting the State of Palestine the right to propose proposals and amendments and introduce them as an observer.
This resolution focuses on the occupied Palestinian territories in the West Bank of the Jordan River. The full name of the draft is “Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Illegality of Israel’s Policies and Practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the Continued Presence of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory”.
The International Court of Justice issued an advisory opinion on July 19 this year, holding that Israel’s continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory is illegal, and that Israel is obliged to end its illegal presence in the territory as soon as possible, immediately cease all new settlement activities, and withdraw all settlers from the occupied Palestinian territory. It is also obliged to compensate all relevant natural or legal persons in the territory for the losses caused.