The United Nations Adopts a Resolution on the Permanent Sovereignty of the Palestinian People over Their Natural Resources

SadaNews - The United Nations Committee on Economic and Financial Issues (the Second Committee) adopted today, Wednesday, the resolution titled "Permanent Sovereignty of the Palestinian People in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over Their Natural Resources," submitted by the Group of Seventy-Seven and China, with a majority of 152 votes in favor of the resolution, including all EU member states and Canada. It was opposed by 8 countries: the United States, Israel, Nauru, Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Paraguay, and Argentina, while 12 countries abstained from voting.

This resolution reaffirms a set of principles and foundations related to Palestinian natural resources, such as the applicability of the Geneva Conventions concerning the protection of civilians in times of war in the occupied Palestinian territory and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

The resolution refers to the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice on July 19, 2024, regarding the legal consequences arising from Israeli policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and the illegal continuation of Israel's presence in the occupied Palestinian territory, as well as recalling the International Court of Justice's advisory opinion regarding the separation wall and the expansionist practices.

The resolution also expresses grave concern over Israel's exploitation of Palestinian natural resources and the destruction inflicted on Palestinian land and agriculture, including the large-scale destruction of agricultural structures and infrastructure, especially regarding water and electricity supplies, particularly in the Gaza Strip, as well as the harmful effects of illegal settlements on all forms of Palestinian life.

Furthermore, it reaffirms the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people over their natural resources and demands that Israel cease its exploitation of these resources. It also emphasizes the Palestinian people's right to claim compensation for Israel's exploitation of these resources and stresses several issues, including that the actions of Israel, such as the construction of settlements and the wall, are harmful to the Palestinian environment.

It reaffirms the call made by the Security Council in its Resolution 2334, which urged states to distinguish between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967.

For his part, Minister Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, stated that this overwhelming vote in favor of the resolution reaffirms once again the international community's support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their sovereign right over their natural resources, expressing his deep gratitude to the countries that voted in favor of this important resolution.