Fourth Committee Approves 9 Draft Resolutions on Israeli-Palestinian Issues – Press release (excerpts)

5 DECEMBER 2014

GA/11597

SIXTY-NINTH SESSION, 64TH MEETING (AM)

Aligning with Fourth Committee, General Assembly Adopts 28 Texts across Sweeping Political, Decolonization Agenda, with Several Requiring Recorded Votes

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Nine resolutions on the Middle East required recorded votes.  Among them was a text on Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.  By a vote of 158 in favour to 8 against (Australia, Canada, Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, United States), with 11 abstentions, the Assembly condemned all acts of violence, including the excessive use of force by the Israeli occupying forces against Palestinian civilians, particularly in the Gaza Strip, which had caused extensive loss of life and vast numbers of injuries, including among thousands of children and women, massive damage and destruction to homes, economic, industrial and agricultural properties, and vital infrastructure — including water, sanitation and electricity.

According to a related text, adopted by a recorded vote of 159 in favour to 7 against (Canada, Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, United States), with 12 abstentions, the Assembly reaffirmed that the Israeli settlements were illegal and an obstacle to peace and economic and social development, and reiterated its demand for the immediate and complete cessation of all such activities there, stressing that that was essential for salvaging the two-State solution on the basis of the pre-1967 borders.

Also requiring recorded votes were texts on the work of the Special Committee; the applicability of the Geneva Convention to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the other occupied Arab territories; Israeli settlements; and the occupied Syrian Golan.

Four resolutions on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) also required recorded votes, including the text on the Agency’s operations.  By that resolution, adopted by a recorded vote of 166 in favour to 6 against (Canada, Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Palau, United States), with 6 abstentions (Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar, Paraguay, South Sudan, Vanuatu.), the Assembly called for a full and transparent investigation into all of the incidents affecting the Agency’s facilities during the conflict in the Gaza Strip in July and August, with a view to ensuring accountability for all international law violations.  It urged the Government of Israel to expeditiously reimburse the Agency for all transit charges incurred and other financial losses sustained as a result of delays and restrictions on movement and access.

Related resolutions also requiring recorded votes were on assistance to Palestine refugees; persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities; and Palestine refugees’ properties and revenues.

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Nine resolutions on the Middle East required recorded votes.  Among them was a text on Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.  By a vote of 158 in favour to 8 against (Australia, Canada, Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, United States), with 11 abstentions, the Assembly condemned all acts of violence, including the excessive use of force by the Israeli occupying forces against Palestinian civilians, particularly in the Gaza Strip, which had caused extensive loss of life and vast numbers of injuries, including among thousands of children and women, massive damage and destruction to homes, economic, industrial and agricultural properties, and vital infrastructure — including water, sanitation and electricity.

According to a related text, adopted by a recorded vote of 159 in favour to 7 against (Canada, Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, United States), with 12 abstentions, the Assembly reaffirmed that the Israeli settlements were illegal and an obstacle to peace and economic and social development, and reiterated its demand for the immediate and complete cessation of all such activities there, stressing that that was essential for salvaging the two-State solution on the basis of the pre-1967 borders.

Also requiring recorded votes were texts on the work of the Special Committee; the applicability of the Geneva Convention to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the other occupied Arab territories; Israeli settlements; and the occupied Syrian Golan.

Four resolutions on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) also required recorded votes, including the text on the Agency’s operations.  By that resolution, adopted by a recorded vote of 166 in favour to 6 against (Canada, Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Palau, United States), with 6 abstentions (Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar, Paraguay, South Sudan, Vanuatu.), the Assembly called for a full and transparent investigation into all of the incidents affecting the Agency’s facilities during the conflict in the Gaza Strip in July and August, with a view to ensuring accountability for all international law violations.  It urged the Government of Israel to expeditiously reimburse the Agency for all transit charges incurred and other financial losses sustained as a result of delays and restrictions on movement and access.

Related resolutions also requiring recorded votes were on assistance to Palestine refugees; persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities; and Palestine refugees’ properties and revenues.

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For information media. Not an official record.

http://www.un.org/press/en/2014/ga11597.doc.htm