New York [US], September 19: With a clear majority of 124 votes on Wednesday, the UN General Assembly has called for Israel's withdrawal from occupied Palestinian territories within a year.
Forty-three countries abstained from voting on the corresponding resolution in the largest UN body, which has 193 member states.
Israel itself, along with the United States, voted against the draft resolution together with 12 other countries.
Some states did not vote.
The resolution is intended to enforce a legal opinion on the Middle East conflict issued by the UN's highest court.
In July, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague had ruled that the occupation of Palestinian territories is illegal and must be ended as soon as possible. Israel had ignored this, and this is also expected in the context of the resolution that has now been adopted.
Europe was divided in the vote, as in previous votes. While France, Portugal, Malta, Belgium, Spain and Norway voted in favour, Germany, Sweden, Italy, Britain, Austria and the Netherlands, among others, abstained. The Czech Republic and Hungary voted against the resolution.
Traditionally, there is a large majority in the United Nations in favour of Palestinian and against Israeli concerns.
Israel took control of the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem in the Six-Day War of 1967. The Palestinians claim these territories for a separate state, which was to be created alongside Israel and which most countries in the world, including Germany, still support today.
In 2005, Israel left the Gaza Strip, but continues to control the land, sea and air borders.
According to the Hamas-controlled health authority, more than 41,270 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the war began on October 7. About a third of the dead are said to be children and adolescents under the age of 18. (DPA)
Source: Qatar Tribune
