GA – 76th Session – 49th Plenary Meeting Verbatim Record – Reports of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/76/PV.49) (Excerpts)

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Agenda item 54

United Nations Relief and Works Agency for

Palestine Refugees in the Near East

Report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/76/416)

The President: The Assembly has before it three draft resolutions recommended by the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) in paragraph 13 of its report.

I give the floor to the representative of Israel, who wishes to speak in explanation of vote before the voting.

Mrs. Shapir Ben Naftaly (Israel): We take the floor once again today to address the one-sided, disproportionate and biased draft resolutions before the General Assembly. Over the past month, the deep hypocrisies and systematic bias enabled at the United Nations against the State of Israel have been recognized by a growing number of delegations.

The draft resolutions that we are voting on today are upheld by the pillars of a politicized agenda and make up a harmful package with a clear end-goal — the denial of Israel’s right to exist as a secure, prosperous and democratic Jewish State. The draft resolutions deliberately focus on false narratives, entrenching conflict and enabling hatred, instead of celebrating and recognizing the significant peaceful momentum that Israel and its peace-seeking allies are expanding every single day.

Israel maintains its steadfast commitment to supporting and actively promoting humanitarian assistance for those in need. It does not believe, however, that a United Nations agency should engage in a politically motivated agenda through the dissemination of advocacy against another United Nations State Member. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East’s distorted definition of refugees provides a false sense of hope of return to more than 5.5 million people. That unrealistic notion will not bring about peace, and neither will it bring about justice.

Furthermore, a special committee investigating the so-called practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people and other Arabs that completely ignores Hamas’ terrorizing of Palestinians and Israelis is inherently detached from reality. It cannot, and should not, receive the support and funding of the General Assembly.

The draft resolutions before the Assembly choose to prioritize demonizing Israel while entirely failing to condemn, let alone mention, terrorist activities. They fuel actions and cost lives. In recent weeks, Israeli civilians were victims of another wave of terror in a series of shootings and stabbing attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian terrorists.

The United Nations stood silent in the face of those terror attacks, and its lack of condemnation was not due to a lack of opportunity. The United Nations made daily deliberate decisions to remain silent on acts of terror against Israeli civilians. At the meeting of the General Assembly held on 29 November, the United Nations remained silent. At the Security Council briefing on the Middle East peace process held on 30 November (see S/PV.8913), the United Nations remained silent. At the General Assembly debate held on the following day, 1 December (see A/76/PV.41 and A/76/PV.42), the United Nations remained silent.

Those were consecutive deliberate failures to condemn terror. Instead of denouncing those heinous acts of terror, the Assembly adopted resolutions exclusively condemning Israel. That is just another example of the infamous double-standard reality that Israel faces daily within the halls of the United Nations.

Israel reiterates that the draft resolutions before the Assembly do nothing to promote peace. They continue to repel any genuine attempt towards achieving peace and bettering the lives of Palestinians and Israelis alike. We ask again whether the Assembly wishes to support the peaceful outstretched hand towards peace through direct dialogue — or does it prefer to continue supporting an anti-Israel agenda? The answer concerns me.

For the final time in 2021, we remind everyone that the path to peace is clear. It is a path of genuine dialogue, acceptance and cooperation. It is not a path of incitement, hatred and terror. Israel continues to offer an outstretched hand to those seeking peace.

The President: We will now take a decision on draft resolutions I to III, one by one.

We turn first to draft resolution I, entitled “Assistance to Palestine refugees”.

A recorded vote has been requested.

A recorded vote was taken.

In favour:

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala,

Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab

Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe

Against:

Israel

Abstaining:

Cameroon, Canada, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, Rwanda, United States of America, Uruguay, Zambia

Draft resolution I was adopted by 164 votes to 1, with 10 abstentions (resolution 76/77).

The President: Draft resolution II is entitled “Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East”.

A recorded vote has been requested.

A recorded vote was taken.

In favour:

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab

Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe

Against:

Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia

(Federated States of), United States of America

Abstaining:

Australia, Cameroon, Guatemala, Rwanda, Uruguay, Zambia

Draft resolution II was adopted by 162 votes to 5, with 6 abstentions (resolution 76/78).

The President: Draft resolution III is entitled “Palestine refugees’ properties and their revenues”.

A recorded vote has been requested.

A recorded vote was taken.

In favour:

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia,

South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname,

Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe

Against:

Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia

(Federated States of), United States of America

Abstaining:

Australia, Brazil, Cameroon, Fiji, Honduras, Kiribati, Togo, Zambia

Draft resolution III was adopted by 159 votes to 5, with 8 abstentions (resolution 76/79).

The President: May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 54?

It was so decided.

Agenda item 55

Israeli practices and settlement activities affecting the rights of the Palestinian People and other Arabs of the occupied territories

Report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/76/417)

The President: The Assembly has before it three draft resolutions recommended by the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) in paragraph 13 of its report.

We will now take decisions on draft resolutions I to III, one by one.

We turn first to draft resolution I, entitled “Work of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories”.

A recorded vote has been requested.

A recorded vote was taken.

In favour:

Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Chad, Chile, China, Comoros, Congo, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Egypt, El Salvador,

Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, GuineaBissau, Guyana, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,

Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Qatar, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe

Against:

Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Israel, Liberia, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Philippines, Slovenia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America

Abstaining:

Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Ecuador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Ukraine, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Zambia

Draft resolution I was adopted by 80 votes to 18, with 73 abstentions (resolution 76/80).

The President: Draft resolution II is entitled “The occupied Syrian Golan”.

A recorded vote has been requested.

A recorded vote was taken.

In favour:

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech

Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru,

Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland,

Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, TimorLeste, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe

Against:

Israel, United States of America

Abstaining:

Australia, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, Côte d’Ivoire, Ecuador, Fiji, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Kiribati, Madagascar, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Panama, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Togo, Tonga, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Zambia

Draft resolution II was adopted by 149 votes to 2, with 23 abstentions (resolution 76/81).

The President: Draft resolution III is entitled “Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan”.

A recorded vote has been requested.

A recorded vote was taken.

In favour:

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Chad, Chile, China, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden,

Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine,

United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe

Against:

Canada, Hungary, Israel, Liberia, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), United States of America

Abstaining:

Australia, Brazil, Cameroon, Colombia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Fiji, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Kiribati, Madagascar, Malawi, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Slovenia, Togo, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Zambia

Draft resolution III was adopted by 146 votes to 7, with 20 abstentions (resolution 76/82).

The President: May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 55?

It was so decided.

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