SOLOMON Islands and 123 other United Nations member states have voted in favor of a resolution demanding that Israel ‘brings to an end without delay its unlawful presence’ in what the UN perceives as the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
The resolution voted on at the 10th emergency special session on 18 September 2024 recorded 124 Nations in favor, 14 against and 43 abstentions.
The resolution calls for Israel to comply with international law and withdraw its military forces, immediately cease all new settlement activity, evacuate all settlers from ‘occupied land’ and dismantle parts of the separation wall it constructed inside the ‘occupied’ West Bank.
The General Assembly further demanded that Israel return land and other immovable property as well as all assets seized since the ‘occupation’ began in 1967 and all cultural property and assets taken from Palestinian institutions.
The resolution also demands Israel to allow all Palestinians displaced during the ‘occupation’ to return to their place of origin and make reparation for the damage caused by its ‘occupation.’
The resolution stems from the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice in July, which the court declared that Israel’s continued presence in the territory ‘is unlawful’ and that all states are under an obligation not to recognize the decades-long ‘occupation.’
The countries that voted against the resolution are Argentina, Czecchia, Fiji, Hungary, Israel itself, Malawi, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Tonga, Tuvalu and the United States of America.
The Head of Solomon Islands Government delegation to the 79th United Nations General Assembly, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Peter Shanel Agovaka when presenting the country’s statement reiterated Solomon Islands longstanding position on the Palestine conflict and its support for the global push for a two-state solution with Israel and Palestine living side by side with secured borders in a ‘just, permanent and complete peace.’
The voting on the resolution comes a week ahead of Prime Minister Manele’s departure for a back-on-back visit to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia to strengthen diplomatic relations with these Gulf States, including the opening of Solomon Islands diplomatic mission in Abu Dhabi.
By IAN LADDS OSO
Solomon Star, Honiara
