UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. General Assembly voted overwhelmingly Friday to support a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict and urge Israel to commit to a Palestinian state, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vehemently opposes.
The 193-member world body approved a nonbinding resolution endorsing the “New York Declaration,” which sets out a phased plan to end the nearly 80-year conflict.
The United States, Israel’s closest ally, reiterated its opposition to the New York Declaration and the General Assembly resolution endorsing implementation of the two-state solution.
The resolution “is yet another misguided and ill-timed publicity stunt that undermines serious diplomatic efforts to end the conflict,” U.S. Mission counselor Morgan Ortagus said.
“In the context of ending the war in Gaza, Hamas must end its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority,” the declaration says.
United States of America — The U. N. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly opposes the General Assembly’s resounding vote on Friday to support a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict and call on Israel to commit to a Palestinian state.
A nonbinding resolution approving the “New York Declaration,” which lays out a phased plan to end the nearly 80-year conflict, was approved by the 193-member world body. With twelve abstentions, the vote was 142–10.
Netanyahu declared that “the Palestinian state will not exist” just hours before the vote. “This place belongs to us,” he said during the signing of an agreement to divide the West Bank into settlements, which the Palestinians insist must be a part of their state. “”.
In late July, France and Saudi Arabia co-chaired a high-level conference on implementing a two-state solution, where the resolution was approved.
When world leaders meet annually at the General Assembly beginning in September, they are likely to prioritize the nearly two-year war in Gaza and the larger Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 2. The Palestinians say they hope that, in addition to the more than 145 nations that currently recognize the state of Palestine, at least 10 more will do so.
Mansour, a Palestinian U.S. “N.”. According to the ambassador, the resolution’s support mirrors “the desire of practically everyone, the international community, to open the door for the option of peace.”. “”.
“We invite a party that is still pushing the option of war and destruction, and attempts to eliminate the Palestinian people and steal their land, to listen to the sound of reason — to the sound of the logic of dealing with this issue peacefully, and for the overwhelming message that has resonated in this General Assembly today,” he said without mentioning Israel. “.”.
Nevertheless, Israel’s U. “N.”. Rejecting the resolution as “theater,” Ambassador Danny Danon claimed that Hamas was the sole gainer.
“This unilateral statement will not be regarded as a positive step toward peace, but rather as yet another token gesture that undermines the legitimacy of this assembly,” he stated.
The New York Declaration and the General Assembly resolution supporting the two-state solution were also reaffirmed as being unacceptable by the United States, Israel’s closest ally.
The resolution “undermines serious diplomatic efforts to end the conflict and is yet another misguided and ill-timed publicity stunt,” according to U.S. S. . Morgan Ortagus, a mission counselor, said. This resolution is a gift to Hamas, no doubt about it. “”.
The statement denounces “the Hamas attacks against civilians” that took place in southern Israel in October. 7, 2023, an uncommon Arab condemnation of Hamas. Around 1,200 people, mostly Israeli civilians, were killed by the Hamas-led militants, who also captured about 250 hostages. Approximately 20 of those are thought to still be alive, and 48 are still being detained.
Additionally, Israel’s attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure in Gaza, as well as the “siege and starvation, which have produced a devastating humanitarian catastrophe and protection crisis,” are condemned. The Gaza Health Ministry reports that Israel’s offensive against Hamas has killed more than 64,000 Palestinians, without making a distinction between combatants and civilians.
Following a ceasefire in Gaza, the declaration calls for the establishment of a transitional administrative committee under the Palestinian Authority, which would then govern and control all of Palestinian territory.
The statement states that Hamas must cede control of Gaza and turn over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority in order to put an end to the conflict there.
Additionally, it endorses the deployment of “a temporary international stabilization mission” under U.S. No. mandates to safeguard Palestinian civilians, facilitate the handover of security to the Palestinian Authority, and offer security assurances to both Israel and Palestine, “including monitoring of the ceasefire and of a future peace agreement.”. “.”.
Calling recognition of the state of Palestine “an essential and indispensable component of the achievement of the two-state solution,” the declaration calls on nations to do so. According to the document, “illegal unilateral actions are posing an existential threat to the realization of the independent state of Palestine,” without specifically mentioning Israel itself. “”.
