The Second Committee of the United Nations General Assembly, responsible for economic and financial matters, adopted a draft resolution on Wednesday affirming the permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people over their natural resources in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem. The measure also recognizes the rights of Arab inhabitants in the occupied Syrian Golan. The resolution passed with a significant majority of 151 votes in favor.
Presented by the Group of 77 and China, the proposal garnered support from all European Union member states and Canada. Seven countries voted against the text: the United States, Israel, Colombia, Paraguay, Palau, Nauru, and Micronesia. Eleven other nations abstained from voting. The outcome underscores the widespread international backing for Palestinian claims regarding resource ownership while highlighting the diplomatic isolation of the opposing bloc.
The resolution asserts the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to their natural resources. It explicitly calls upon Israeli occupying authorities to cease the exploitation of these resources or actions that lead to their waste or depletion. Furthermore, the text emphasizes the right of Palestinians to seek compensation for damages and losses resulting from such exploitation. It draws attention to the environmental consequences stemming from the establishment of Israeli settlements and the separation wall within occupied Palestinian lands, noting the harm inflicted upon both natural resources and the broader environment.
Reaffirming the illegality of the occupation, the document cites the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice on July 19, 2024, which declared the continued Israeli presence in occupied Palestinian territories unlawful and outlined corresponding legal obligations. The resolution also invokes provisions from the Fourth Geneva Convention and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Additionally, it references United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334, which demands recognition of no changes to the borders of June 4, 1967, including those related to Jerusalem, except through negotiated agreements between parties.
This broad consensus among member states reflects a collective rejection of Israeli measures that undermine sovereignty or lead to the depletion of resources in occupied areas. The vote serves as a formal diplomatic statement reinforcing the position that the occupation cannot legally appropriate or degrade the natural wealth of the territories under its control.
