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By UN News Centre
Convinced that achieving a final and
peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine -- the core of the
Arab-Israeli conflict –- would serve as the cornerstone of stability
in the Middle East, the General Assembly today adopted resolutions
concerning Palestine, Jerusalem and the Syrian Golan, among others.
The Assembly expressed grave concern over the tragic events in the
occupied Palestinian territories over the past four years, adopting
a text on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine by a
vote of 161 in favour to 7 against (Australia, Federated States of
Micronesia, Grenada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Palau, United
States), with 10 abstentions (Cameroon, Haiti, Honduras, Nauru,
Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Uganda, Vanuatu).
(See Annex IV.)
By that text, the world body stressed the need for Israel’s
withdrawal from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967 and
the realization of the Palestinian people’s inalienable rights,
primarily the right to self-determination and to an independent
State. It also stressed the need for a speedy end to the
reoccupation of Palestinian population centres and for the complete
cessation of all acts of violence, including military attacks,
destruction and acts of terror.
Additionally, the Assembly called on both sides, the diplomatic
Quartet and other interested parties to work to halt the situation’s
further deterioration, and to facilitate a speedy resumption of the
peace process and conclusion of a final peaceful settlement.
On Jerusalem, the Assembly adopted an orally corrected text that
reaffirmed the international community’s interest in protecting the
city’s unique spiritual, religious and cultural character, by a
recorded vote of 155 in favour to 7 against (Federated States of
Micronesia, Grenada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, United
States), with 15 abstentions. (See Annex V.)
By that text, the world body reiterated that any actions taken by
Israel to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the
city remained illegal, and deplored the transfer of diplomatic
missions to Jerusalem, in violation of relevant Security Council
resolutions. The Assembly also stressed that a comprehensive, just
and lasting solution to the question of Jerusalem –- which took into
account the legitimate concerns of both sides –- must include
internationally guaranteed provisions to ensure freedom of religion
and of conscience, and permanent, free and unhindered access of all
to holy places.
Also eliciting significant discussion was the text on the Syrian
Golan, adopted by a recorded vote of 111 in favour to 6 against
(Federated States of Micronesia, Grenada, Israel, Marshall Islands,
Palau, United States), with 60 abstentions (See Annex VI), by which
the Assembly stressed the illegality of Israeli settlement
activities in the occupied Syrian Golan since 1967.
In addition to resuming talks with Syria and Lebanon, and respecting
commitments and undertakings reached during the previous talks, the
world body also called on Israel to rescind its 14 December 1981
decision to impose laws, jurisdiction and administration on the
occupied Syrian Golan and, once more, demanded a complete withdrawal
to the 4 June 1967 line.
Also today, the Assembly adopted three texts concerning the work of
the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People, the Division for Palestinian Rights and the
Department of Public Information, all by recorded votes. (See
Annexes I, II and III, respectively.)
Statements on the situation in the Middle East were made by the
representatives of the Sudan, Indonesia, Cameroon and South Africa.
Explanations of vote were made by the representatives of Venezuela,
Canada, Netherlands (on behalf of the European Union), Brazil (also
on behalf of Argentina) and Haiti.
The Observer for Palestine made a general statement.
The Assembly will reconvene at 3 p.m. tomorrow, 2 December, to take
up the reports of its Sixth Committee (Legal).
To View the Full Press Release (116 KB)
Source: UN News Centre
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