General Assembly Adopts Resolutions Contained in Reports on UNRWA and Israeli Practices and Settlement Activities Affecting Rights of the Palestinian People – Press Release (GA/12481) (Excerpts)

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Acting on the recommendation of its Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization), the General Assembly today adopted 33 draft resolutions and two draft decisions, including texts concerning the mandate and operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.

The draft resolution on “Assistance to Palestine refugees” was adopted by a recorded vote of 157 in favour to 1 against (Israel), with 10 abstentions (Cameroon, Canada, Guatemala, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, United States, Uruguay).  By its terms, the Assembly affirmed the necessity for the continuation of the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and would extend UNRWA’s mandate until 30 June 2026.

The resolution titled “Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East”, adopted by a recorded vote of 157 in favour to 5 against (Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, United States), with 4 abstentions (Cameroon, Guatemala, Papua New Guinea, Uruguay), had the Assembly decide to consider a gradual increase in the United Nations regular budget allocation to the Agency to support expenses for operational costs.  The Assembly also appeals to States and organizations for the maintenance of their voluntary contributions to the Agency, as well as an increase in contributions where possible, in particular to the Agency’s programme budget.

Also adopted by a recorded vote was the resolution “Palestine refugees’ properties and their revenues”, with 153 in favour to 6 against (Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, United States), with 6 abstentions (Brazil, Cameroon, Guatemala, Papua New Guinea, South Sudan, Togo).  By its terms, the Assembly requests the Secretary-General to take appropriate steps, in consultation with the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine, to protect Arab property, assets and property rights in Israel.  It would also urge the Palestinian and Israeli sides to deal with the question of Palestine refugees’ properties and their revenues within the framework of final-status peace negotiations.

The resolution concerning “The occupied Syrian Golan” was adopted by a recorded vote of 141 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with 25 abstentions.  By its terms, the Assembly calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply with relevant resolutions on the Syrian Golan, in particular Security Council resolution 497 (1981).  It also calls upon Israel to desist from changing the Syrian Golan’s physical character, demographic composition, institutional structure and legal status, and to desist in particular from the establishment of settlements.

The resolution on “Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan”, adopted by a recorded vote of 141 favour to 7 against (Canada, Hungary, Israel, Marshall Islands,  Micronesia, Nauru, United States), with 21 abstentions, reiterates the Assembly’s demand for the immediate and complete cessation of all Israeli settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan.

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Turning to the report on United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) (document A/77/399), which contained three texts, the Assembly adopted — by a recorded vote of 157 in favour to 5 against (Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), United States), with 4 abstentions (Cameroon, Guatemala, Papua New Guinea, Uruguay) ‑ draft resolution I titled “Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East”.  By its terms, the Assembly decides to consider a gradual increase in the United Nations regular budget allocation to the Agency and takes note of the Secretary-General’s recommendations in that regard.  It calls UNRWA to further enhance its internal governance and oversight mechanisms to ensure that its management delivers on its mandate with transparency and accountability, while preserving the Agency’s agility and operational response capacity.  It also appeals to States and organizations to maintain their voluntary contributions to UNRWA and to increase their contributions where possible, particularly to its programme budget.

It then adopted the draft resolution II “Assistance to Palestine refugees” by a recorded vote of 157 in favour to 1 against (Israel), with 10 abstentions (Cameroon, Canada, Guatemala, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, United States, Uruguay).  By its terms, the Assembly, affirming the need for UNRWA to continue its work, extends its mandate until 30 June 2026.  It also calls upon donors to strengthen their efforts to meet the Agency’s anticipated needs.

Next, it adopted the draft resolution III “Palestine refugees’ properties and their revenues” by a recorded vote of 153 in favour to 6 against (Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, United States), with 6 abstentions (Brazil, Cameroon, Guatemala, Papua New Guinea, South Sudan, Togo).  Through that text, The Assembly requests the Secretary-General to take appropriate steps, in consultation with the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine, to protect Arab property, assets and property rights in Israel.  It also urges the Palestinian and Israeli sides to deal with the question of Palestine refugees’ properties and their revenues within the framework of final-status peace negotiations.

The Assembly then took up the three draft resolutions in the report on Israeli practices and settlement activities affecting the rights of the Palestinian people and other Arabs of the occupied territories (document A/77/400).

CSABA KŐRÖSI (Hungary), President of the General Assembly, said that action on the draft resolution I, “Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem” is postponed to a later date to allow the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) to review its programme budget implications.

By a recorded vote of 141 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with 25 abstentions, the Assembly adopted draft resolution II concerning “The occupied Syrian Golan”.  By its terms, the Assembly calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply with relevant resolutions on the Syrian Golan, in particular Security Council resolution 497 (1981).  It also calls upon Israel to desist from changing the Syrian Golan’s physical character, demographic composition, institutional structure and legal status, and to desist in particular from the establishment of settlements.

It then adopted, by a recorded vote of 141 favour to 7 against (Canada, Hungary, Israel, Marshall Islands, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, United States), with 21 abstentions, draft resolution III on “Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan”.  By its terms, the Assembly reiterates its demand for the immediate and complete cessation of all Israeli settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan.  It also reiterates its call for the prevention of all acts of violence, destruction, harassment and provocation by Israeli settlers, as well as its call for accountability for the illegal actions perpetrated by Israeli settlers in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

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For information media. Not an official record.