On Wednesday, the United Nations Economic and Financial Committee (Second Committee) approved a draft resolution titled “Permanent Sovereignty of the Palestinian People in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab Population in the Occupied Syrian Golan Over Their Natural Resources.” This resolution was presented by the Group of 77 and China.
The resolution garnered support from 159 nations, including all member states of the European Union, while seven countries, including the United States, Israel, Canada, Nauru, Micronesia, Palau, and Argentina, opposed it. Additionally, eleven countries abstained from voting.
The resolution acknowledges the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice on July 19, 2024, which addresses the legal implications of Israel’s policies and actions in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem.
The opinion declared Israel’s continued presence in these areas as illegal. It also references the ICJ’s opinion on the separation wall and underscores key principles related to Palestinian natural resources, asserting the applicability of the Geneva Convention on the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
The resolution expresses significant concern over Israel’s exploitation of Palestinian natural resources, the destruction of Palestinian land and agriculture, and the widespread demolition of agricultural infrastructure, particularly water and electricity supplies in Gaza. It also highlights the negative impact of illegal settlements on Palestinian life.
Furthermore, the resolution reaffirms the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to their natural resources, demands that Israel cease its exploitation, and affirms the Palestinian right to seek compensation for Israel’s actions. It stresses that the construction of settlements and the separation wall, among other activities, are detrimental to the Palestinian environment.
The resolution reiterates the call from UN Security Council Resolution 2334, urging states to distinguish between the territory of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967.
