UN Adopts Historic Resolution to End Israeli Occupation of Palestinian Territories

The United Nations General Assembly adopted Wednesday a historic resolution calling on Israel to end its illegal presence in the occupied Palestinian territories within 12 months based on an advisory opinion requested by the General Assembly from the International Court of Justice regarding the legal consequences of Israel's policies and practices in Palestine. The resolution was issued by a majority of 124 members, opposed by 14, and abstaining from voting. The vote on the draft resolution, which was submitted for the first time by Palestine, along with the State of Qatar and 14 Arab and Islamic countries, came during the tenth emergency special session of the United Nations General Assembly on Palestine. The resolution includes Israel ending - without delay - its illegal presence in the occupied Palestinian territories within a maximum period of 12 months from the date of adopting the resolution, and that Israel comply without delay with all its obligations under international law, including as stipulate d by the International Court of Justice, and that Israel take six measures, which are: 1- Withdraw all its military forces from the occupied Palestinian territories. 2- End its illegal policies and practices, including an immediate cessation of all new settlement activities. 3- Evacuate all settlers from the occupied Palestinian territory and dismantle parts of the wall built by Israel. 4- Return lands and other immovable property, and all assets seized since 1967. 5- Allow all Palestinians who were displaced during the occupation to return to their original places of residence. 6- Not impede the Palestinian people from exercising their right to self-determination, including their right to establish an independent sovereign State over the entire occupied Palestinian territory. The General Assembly, in the resolution, called upon all States to comply with their obligations under international law. It was decided to hold an international conference during the seventy-ninth session of the General Assembly to implement the United Nations resolutions related to the question of Palestine and the two-State solution to achieve a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East. The General Assembly also called for the convening of a conference of the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilians in Time of War, to address the necessary measures to implement the Convention in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem. The resolution requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly, within 3 months, a report on the implementation of this resolution. Source: Qatar News Agency