Permanent sovereignty over natural resources in the OPT, Golan – Second Committee approves draft resolution – Press release (excerpts)

Second Committee

35^th and 36^th Meeting (AM & PM)

SECOND COMMITTEE APPROVES TEXT DEMANDING ISRAEL COMPLY WITH INTERNATIONAL LAW,

END EXPLOITATION OF ARAB RESOURCES

Members Also Pass Draft Resolutions

On Oil Slick off Lebanon, Unilateral Economic Measures, Climate Change

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The General Assembly would demand that Israel stop exploiting, depleting and endangering the natural resources in the occupied Arab lands, by the terms of one of five draft resolutions approved today by the Second Committee (Economic and Financial).

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By other terms of the text — entitled “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” — the Assembly would call upon Israel to comply with its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, with respect to the alteration of the character and status of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

It would call upon Israel to halt all actions, including those perpetrated by Israeli settlers, harming the environment, including the dumping of waste materials, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan. By other terms, it would stress that the wall and settlements being constructed by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, were contrary to international law and were depriving the Palestinian people of their natural resources.

Israel’s representative said the Committee was engaged in a meaningless exercise, rather than addressing sustainable development and poverty issues. The resolution did nothing to improve the situation between Israel and Palestine and was motivated by anti-Israeli sentiment, designed to ferment division and unilateralism at a time when such issues could only be resolved through negotiation. He said that Israel’s hand remained outstretched.

The observer for the State of Palestine said the Committee’s approval of the draft resolution was a testament to the importance attached by States to development and prosperity. The overwhelming majority had voted in favour of it, which reaffirmed the right of the Palestinian people to sovereignty over their natural resources, which were vital for progress. The international community had clearly spoken against Israel’s occupation.

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Background

The Second Committee (Economic and Financial) met this morning to take action on several draft resolutions.

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Action on Drafts

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The Committee then turned to the “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” (document A/C.2/68/L.27). It approved the text by a recorded vote of 162 in favour to 5 against (Canada, Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Palau, United States), with 9 abstentions (Australia, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Honduras, Jamaica, Malawi, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Tonga).

The representative of Israel said the Committee was engaged in a meaningless exercise, rather than addressing sustainable development and poverty. At a time when resources of the United Nations were scarce, it was sad that the Committee’s agenda was hijacked. The resolution did not improve the situation between Israel and Palestine and was motivated by anti-Israeli sentiment, designed to ferment division and unilateralism at a time when such issues could only be resolved through negotiation. He said that Israel’s hand remained outstretched.

The observer for the State of Palestine said the Committee’s approval of the draft resolution was a testament to the importance attached by States to development and prosperity. The overwhelming majority had voted in favour of the resolution, which reaffirmed the right of the Palestinian people to sovereignty over their natural resources, which were vital for progress. The resolution called on Israel to put an end to its violation of international instruments and cease its exploitation of Palestinian land and water resources, and to stop destroying agricultural land and polluting the environment. The international community had clearly spoken against the colonial nature of Israel’s occupation. However, Israel faced the outstretched hands of the Palestinian people by confiscating land, building settlements and walls and destroying the capabilities and resources of the Palestinian people.

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For information media • not an official record