The Palestinian-Israeli conflict has been postponed to this day, and the two sides have still not reached a stable compromise on the territorial issue. The living space of the Palestinians is getting narrower and narrower, Israel's territorial expansion ambitions are getting bigger and bigger, and the turmoil in the Middle East situation is getting worse. Against this background, the United Nations General Assembly held a meeting and passed a resolution titled "Israel's Violations of the Human Rights of the Palestinian People in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem," with a vote of 87 in favor, 26 against, and 53 abstentions. Among them, China and Russia had the same position on the issue and voted in favor, while the United States, Israel, the United Kingdom, and Germany voted against. France rarely followed the position of its Western allies and chose to abstain from voting.
This resolution mainly refers to a series of issues between Palestine and Israel, submitted to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), allowing the body to give advisory opinions in order to urge the Israeli government to implement the peace plan given by the United Nations. The core issues involved in the resolution include "the legal consequences of Israel's continued occupation, colonization and annexation of the Jordan River and the Gaza Strip", "the legal consequences of Israel's measures aimed at changing the demographic composition, characteristics and status of Jerusalem" and "the legal consequences of Israel's adoption of relevant discriminatory legislation and measures". In addition, the resolution requires the ICJ to explain how specific Israeli policies and actions affect the legal status of the occupied Palestinian territory, and also requires the ICJ to provide opinions on the legal consequences of this legal status for all countries and the United Nations. The
resolution requires that both parties should promote and accelerate meaningful negotiations to reach a peace agreement to completely end Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories and to resolve the Palestinian issue in a peaceful, just, lasting and comprehensive manner.
United Nations resolutions are not mandatory. If resolutions related to the Palestinian-Israeli issue were submitted to the Security Council for review, it would be impossible to pass them under the obstruction of the United States, Britain and other countries. Therefore, how to promote the solution of the Palestinian-Israeli issue to the greatest extent within the framework of the United Nations, enhance the authority of UN resolutions , and use international courts to interpret laws is a very effective path.
After the resolution on the Palestine-Israel issue was passed, the United Nations-affiliated "Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Palestine-Israel Issue" immediately issued a statement welcoming the adoption of the resolution. The committee pointed out in a statement that Israel's continued occupation of Palestinian territories and discrimination against the Palestinian people are key sources of recurring tensions, continued instability and ongoing conflicts in the region. The committee determined that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories is illegal under international law and that Israel must end permanent annexation and occupation and follow the core recommendations made by the ICJ. After the adoption of the
resolution, Israel expressed its strong opposition. Israel's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Edan, refuted the resolution, claiming that any decision made by a judicial body authorized by the United Nations is "completely illegal." The Israeli representative also criticized the United Nations for having degenerated into a "morally corrupt and politicized" organization. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said that the Jews are not invaders in their own land, nor are they occupiers of Israel's eternal capital, Jerusalem. No United Nations resolution can distort this truth, and Israel will not accept such a "despicable decision".
Palestinian Ambassador to the United Nations Mansour accused Israel of still accelerating the expansion of Jewish settlements and its "colonial and racial policies" against the Palestinians have become more severe. He praised those countries that have not been intimidated by threats and pressure from Israel and Western countries. In response to questions related to the resolution, many senior Palestinian officials said that the vote reflected a victory for Palestinian diplomacy and that the international community had taken an important step towards restricting and isolating the occupying power. A spokesman for Abbas, chairman of the Palestinian National Authority, also said that it is time for Israel to accept the constraints of international law and that it is time to take responsibility for the crimes that the Palestinian people continue to commit.
Although the Chinese representative did not elaborate on our position in the speech session after the vote, voting in favor has firmly made our attitude clear. When reviewing issues related to Palestine, Israel and the Middle East, Chinese representatives have put forward three constructive opinions at the United Nations. China believes that, first, the situation between Palestine and Israel has once again highlighted the importance of achieving common security. Second, the situation between Palestine and Israel once again highlights the need to implement international consensus. Third, the situation between Palestine and Israel once again highlights the urgency of advancing the "two-state solution."
Earlier, when meeting with President Abbas of the Palestinian National Authority, Chinese senior officials made it clear that no matter how the international and regional situation changes, China will firmly support the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate national rights and will always stand with the Palestinian people. China supports the direction of the "two-state solution" and the principle of "land for peace" and hopes to promote peace talks on the basis of relevant United Nations resolutions and promote an early, just and lasting solution to the Palestinian-Israeli issue.
