General Assembly2023-04-20T16:38:35-04:00

The Question of Palestine and the General Assembly

Empty GA Hall

A general view of the General Assembly Hall. UN Photo/Sophia Paris

The General Assembly is the main deliberative organ of the United Nations, composed of representatives of all Member States.  The question of Palestine was first brought before the General Assembly in 1947. By resolution 181 (II), the Assembly decided to partition Palestine into two states, one Arab and one Jewish, with Jerusalem placed under a special international regime. After the 1948 war, the Assembly by resolution 194 (III) of 1949 established the Conciliation Commission for Palestine (UNCCP) to help the parties reach a final settlement, while reaffirming the rights of Palestine refugees to return and restitution. UNRWA, a Palestine refugee agency, was established by the Assembly the same year.

In 1974, the question of Palestine was re-introduced in the Assembly’s agenda. Resolution 3236 (XXIX) reaffirmed the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination, national independence and sovereignty, and the right of the Palestinians to return to their homes and property. In 1975, the Assembly established the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. The question of Palestine and related issues have been the subject of numerous resolutions and decisions adopted by the Assembly’s regular, special and emergency sessions.

On 29 November 2012 the Assembly granted Palestine non-member observer State status in the UN. The relevant issues on the agenda of the Assembly and its subsidiary organs, such as the Human Rights Council include the right of Palestinians to self-determination, their sovereignty over natural resources, assistance, refugees, IDPs, UNRWA, human rights, Israeli settlements, peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, and Jerusalem, among others.

To search the GA Resolutions voting records database, please click here

For Security Council resolutions click here

For Human Rights Council resolutions click here

GA’s Resolutions on Question of Palestine

Date Title Subject Symbol
12-Dec-1958 Palestine refugees/UNRWA report/Education and vocational training/UNCCP consultations – GA resolution Education and culture, Middle East situation, Palestine question, Refugees and displaced persons A/RES/1315 (XIII)
Sources:

General Assembly, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)

Type

Resolution

14-Nov-1958 UNEF – GA resolution Peacekeeping A/RES/1263 (XIII)
Sources:

General Assembly, United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF I)

Type

Resolution

21-Aug-1958 Mideast situation/Jordan/Lebanon – GA 3rd emergency special session – Resolution Incidents, Middle East situation, Situation in Lebanon A/RES/1237 (ES-III)
Sources:

General Assembly, General Assembly 3rd Emergency Special Session, League of Arab States (LAS)

Type

Resolution

12-Dec-1957 Palestine refugees/UNRWA report/UNCCP consultations – GA resolution Middle East situation, Palestine question, Refugees and displaced persons A/RES/1191 (XII)
Sources:

General Assembly, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)

Type

Resolution

28-Feb-1957 Palestine refugees/UNRWA report/UNCCP consultations – GA resolution Middle East situation, Palestine question, Refugees and displaced persons A/RES/1018 (XI)
Sources:

General Assembly, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)

Type

Multimedia, Resolution

27-Feb-1957 Palestine refugees/Voluntary contributions/Negotiating Committee for Extra-Budgetary Funds report – GA resolution Refugees and displaced persons A/RES/1091 (XI)
Sources:

General Assembly, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)

Type

Resolution

22-Feb-1957 UNEF – GA resolution Peacekeeping A/RES/1126 (XI)
Sources:

General Assembly, United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF I)

Type

Resolution

02-Feb-1957 UNEF functions – GA resolution Middle East situation, Palestine question, Peacekeeping A/RES/1125 (XI)
Sources:

General Assembly, United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF I)

Type

Resolution

02-Feb-1957 1956 war – GA resolution Armed conflict A/RES/1124 (XI)
Sources:

General Assembly

Type

Resolution

19-Jan-1957 1956 war – GA resolution Armed conflict A/RES/1123 (XI)
Sources:

General Assembly

Type

Resolution

Showing 10 documents of 890 found.

Go to Top