The United Nations Second Committee on Economic and Financial Matters approved a 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."
اضافة اعلان
The draft resolution, presented by the Group of 77 and China, was adopted by a majority of 152 votes in favor, including all EU member states and Canada. Eight countries voted against it—the United States, Israel, Nauru, Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Paraguay, and Argentina—while 12 countries abstained.
The resolution reiterates principles regarding Palestinian natural resources, including the applicability of the Geneva Convention on the protection of civilians during war in the occupied Palestinian territories, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights.
It references the International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion of July 19, 2024, on the legal consequences of Israel’s policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, affirming the illegality of Israel’s continued presence. The resolution also recalls the ICJ ruling regarding the separation wall and racial expansion practices.
The resolution expresses deep concern over Israel’s exploitation of Palestinian natural resources, the destruction of Palestinian land and agriculture, extensive damage to agricultural infrastructure—particularly water and electricity supply in Gaza—and the harmful effects of illegal settlements on all aspects of Palestinian life.
It emphasizes the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people over their natural resources, calls on Israel to cease exploiting them, and affirms the right of Palestinians to claim compensation for such exploitation. The resolution also highlights that Israel’s construction of settlements, the separation wall, and related activities are environmentally damaging to Palestinian territories.
The resolution reaffirms the UN Security Council’s Resolution 2334, which urged states to distinguish between the territory of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967.
Palestine’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Riyad Mansour, stated that the overwhelming vote in favor underscores the international community’s support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their sovereignty over natural resources, and expressed his deep gratitude to the countries that voted in favor of this important resolution.
