In a few days, more than 180 world leaders are expected for the high-level week at the UN, where the war in Gaza is expected to dominate the discussions. The Palestinian delegation is calling on states to demand an end to the Israeli occupation of its territories within 12 months. This is the first time that it has submitted a text itself to the vote and it has decided to rely on the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice which found that Israel’s continued presence in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967 is unlawful.
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Palestinian Ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour wasted no time. Once the opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) rendered, it worked with other Arab countries to draft its first resolution. Last July, the ICJ, examining the Israeli occupation since 1967 at the request of the General Assembly, had ruled 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 “To ensure broad support, Riyad Mansour has taken up the very terms of the opinion of the highest court, explains our correspondent in New York, Carrie Nooten.
” It was a historic opinion, because it was the first time that the Court examined the Israeli occupation as a whole. The Court’s advisory opinion showed that there is no doubt about the facts or the law, but the law is not there to serve simply as a yardstick for measuring violations. It is there to prevent those violations, and when that does not work, it is there to punish them, to put an end to them, to demand accountability, to ensure justice. “, assures the Palestinian ambassador to the UN.
Vote on Israeli troop withdrawal
The draft resolution, which has been debated since Tuesday 17 September by the 193 member states of the UN, is due to be put to the vote at 11:00 a.m. local time (3:00 p.m. UTC) this Wednesday. It ” required » thatIsrael ” immediately terminate its illicit presence “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.
He ” required ” also the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Palestinian territoriesthe cessation of new settlements, the restitution of seized land and property, or even the possibility of the return of displaced Palestinians.
The draft 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 ” reasonable “to think that they could be used in the Palestinian territories. And also to take sanctions against people participating” to the maintenance of Israel’s illicit presence ” in the occupied territories.
Non-binding resolution
Even if this resolution is passed, it will not be binding but it will set the tone, a few days before the launch of the high-level week of the General Assembly and will complicate the visit of Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israel has denounced a ” masquerade “. ” Those who contribute to this circus are not just spectators. “, but ” collaborators. Every vote in support of this circus fuels violence and encourages those who reject peace. “, lambasted Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon, calling the Palestinian move ” diplomatic terrorism “.
Also readUN: ICJ says ‘Israel’s military presence in Palestinian territories serves to ‘gain territory by force’