Human Rights Council Adopts Resolutions on Rights of Palestinian People to Self-determination, Israel Settlements in the OPT – Press Release (Excerpts)

The Human Rights Council this afternoon…adopted resolutions on…the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination; Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and in the occupied Syrian Golan; human rights in the occupied Syrian Golan;

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In a resolution on the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, the Council reaffirmed the Palestinian people’s right to live in freedom, justice and dignity and the right to their independent State of Palestine. The Council called upon all States to ensure their obligations of non-recognition, non-aid or assistance with regard to the serious breaches of peremptory norms of international law by Israel; to adopt measures to promote the realization of the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people; and to assist the United Nations in carrying out its responsibilities regarding the implementation of this right.

In a resolution on Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan, the Council reaffirmed that the Israeli settlements established since 1967 in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan were illegal under international law, and constituted a major obstacle to the achievement of the two-State solution and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace. The Council requested the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to report on the implementation of the provisions of this resolution at the Council’s fifty-second session.

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Action on Resolutions under Agenda Item Seven on the Human Rights Situation in Palestine and other Occupied Arab Territories

In a resolution (A/HRC/49/L.17) on the Right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, adopted by a vote of 41 in favour, 3 against and 3 abstentions, the Council reaffirms the Palestinian people’s right to live in freedom, justice and dignity and the right to their independent State of Palestine.  It also reaffirms the need to achieve a just, comprehensive and lasting peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and called upon Israel, the occupying power, to immediately end its occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.  The Council expresses grave concern at the fragmentation of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, resulting from Israel’s continuing construction and expansion of settlements, forcible transfer of Palestinians and construction of the wall.  The Council calls upon all States to ensure their obligations of non-recognition, non-aid or assistance with regard to the serious breaches of peremptory norms of international law by Israel; to adopt measures to promote the realization of the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people; and to assist the United Nations in carrying out its responsibilities regarding the implementation of this right.

The results of the vote are as follows:

In favour (41): Argentina, Armenia, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Eritrea, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Libya, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mexico, Montenegro, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Pakistan, Paraguay, Poland, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, and Venezuela.

Against (3):  Marshall Islands, United Kingdom, and United States.

Abstentions (3): Cameroon, Honduras, and Lithuania.

In a resolution (A/HRC/49/L.18) on Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan, adopted by a vote of 38 in favour, 4 against and 5 abstentions, the Council reaffirms that the Israeli settlements established since 1967 in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan are illegal under international law, and constitute a major obstacle to the achievement of the two-State solution and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace.  The Council further calls on Israel, the occupying Power, to end without delay its occupation of the territories occupied since 1967, and to stop immediately the establishment of new settlements and the expansion of existing settlements.  The Council calls upon business enterprises to take all measures necessary to comply with their responsibilities under the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and relevant international laws and standards with respect to their activities in or in relation to the Israeli settlements and the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, to avoid the adverse impact of such activities on human rights.  The Council requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to report on the implementation of the provisions of this resolution at the Council’s fifty-second session.

The results of the vote are as follows:

In favour (38): Argentina, Armenia, Benin, Bolivia, China, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Eritrea, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Libya, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mexico, Montenegro, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Pakistan, Paraguay, Poland, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, and Venezuela.

Against (4):  Malawi, Marshall Islands, United Kingdom, and United States.

Abstentions (5): Brazil, Cameroon, Honduras, Lithuania, and Ukraine.

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