The UN General Assembly voted on Thursday, with 137 in favor, 12 against, and 22 abstentions, to approve a resolution requesting the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to issue an advisory opinion on Israel’s obligations to facilitate aid to Palestinians provided by states and international organizations, including the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). The resolution introduced by Norway and co-sponsored by Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and others. The Advisory Opinion is a non-binding opinion but its has political implications for the State of Israel and will be used to further distort international law for political means.
Two additional resolutions passed by a majority. The first condemns an Israeli Air Force strike on oil storage tanks during its 2006 war against Hezbollah. The second resolution unilaterally recognizes Palestinian sovereignty over natural resources in East Jerusalem and the Syrian Golan, and raises so-called concerns over Israel's alleged exploitation, destruction, and depletion of these resources.
On Tuesday, two more anti-Israel resolutions were adopted: one affirming the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and the other emphasizing the importance of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, despite the declaration’s contentious legacy and historical misuse to delegitimize Israel. These texts are part of the UN’s annual slate of anti-Israel resolutions that are brought to vote each December without fail.
This week’s resolutions follow the General Assembly’s vote last Wednesday to approve new demands for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, without making the cessation contingent on the release of the hostages or requiring Hamas to disarm.
Diplomatic Responses:
Danny Danon, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN: “The ICJ now has been weaponized; its advisory opinions are twisted to attack Israel and undermine our right to defend our people. This is injustice; it’s a political theater. It cheapens the court, emboldens terror, and undermines the principles the institution was founded to uphold.”
The Permanent Mission of the United States to the UN: “The proposed referral brings us no closer to a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians. It will not meaningfully improve the lives of Palestinian civilians in Gaza who neither started this conflict nor have the ability to end it.”
Understanding the Bias of Each Resolution:
Request for an advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the obligations of Israel:
- The resolution shows the increasing politicization of international law within the United Nations. By emphasizing legal obligations without addressing the role of Hamas, the resolution risks reducing international law to a tool for political maneuvering.
- The resolution fails to address the role of Hamas and other militant groups in perpetuating violence, threatening Israeli civilians, and obstructing peace processes.
- By endorsing UNRWA, the resolution risks legitimizing an organization implicated in supporting Hamas. Some UNRWA members were directly involved in the abduction of Israelis on October 7th. UNRWA also has a history of tolerating incitement in its educational materials.
Condemnation of Israel Attacks on Hezbollah Assets in 2006:
- This marks the 19th consecutive year of similar resolutions, perpetuating a one-sided narrative and using the UN platform to isolate Israel.
- The resolution ignores Israel's legitimate self- defense and the environmental damage caused by Hezbollah's activities. It disregards the broader context of the conflict, including Hezbollah's role in provoking the Second Lebanon War and using civilian infrastructure for military purposes.
Call for permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people over West Bank and East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the Golan over their natural resources:
- The resolution blatantly hyper-fixates on Israel’s actions while simultaneously downplaying the broader context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It fails to acknowledge Palestinian actions, including violence and terrorism, hindering the potential for constructive dialogue.
