The United Nations General Assembly‘s Second Committee, on Wednesday, adopted a draft resolution which reaffirms the permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people over the natural resources in occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem.

The draft 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, was introduced by Uruguay on behalf of the Group of 77 and China during the committee’s 81st session.

The resolution was adopted by 151 votes in favour. African states, including Nigeria, Niger, Kenya, Ghana, Liberia, and Mali, voted in favour.

Seven countries voted against it and 11 abstained. The seven countries that voted against the resolution were Israel, the US, Colombia, Paraguay, Palau, Nauru and the Federated States of Micronesia.

The resolution demands that Israel stop exploiting natural resources in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan.

It also recognises the right of the Palestinian people to seek restitution for the exploitation, damage, loss, depletion or endangerment of their natural resources resulting from measures taken by Israel and Israeli settlers.

It is the latest UN resolution on the Palestinian people’s territorial rights that is adopted.

The committee also demanded that Israel desist from activities that harm the environment, including the dumping of waste materials in the occupied Palestinian territory and the occupied Syrian Golan.

It also demanded an end to the destruction of essential infrastructure, including water pipelines, sewage systems and electricity networks. This systemic destruction of civilian infrastructure has been a core aspect of Israel’s genocidal campaign in Gaza.

An Israeli representative, who requested a recorded vote, criticised the resolution, arguing that it did not advance Palestinian development.

The Israeli representative said the resolution failed to address what Israel considers the underlying causes of Palestinian economic difficulties, and faulted the draft for not referring to Hamas, which Israel considers a terrorist organisation.

The US also opposed the resolution, describing it as unbalanced and an example of what it called persistent institutional bias against Israel.

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However, the State of Palestine’s Permanent Observer to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, welcomed the outcome, describing the overwhelming support as a powerful reaffirmation of the Palestinian people’s rights.

Mr Mansour said the destruction witnessed in Gaza demonstrated the impact of the conflict on the resources and infrastructure necessary for human survival.

Syria also said the vote sent a message of international support and demonstrated that the international community was paying attention to developments in the occupied territories.

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Nigeria, 150 other countries adopt UN resolution supporting Palestinian sovereignty over natural resources

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