Human rights in the occupied Syrian Golan

Year

2023

UN Body

Human Rights Council

Session

52

Session Type

HRC Regular

Agenda Item

7

Country Concerned

Israel

Condemnatory

Yes

Analysis

  • The resolution rejects Israel's annexation of the Golan as illegal and calls upon Israel to cease settlement activity on the Golan and not to infringe the rights of the Syrian residents of the Golan. Also, the resolution contains no praise, completely ignoring Israel's provision of medical assistance to Syrian citizens in urgent need of medical care not available in Syria.
  • Moreover, the resolution was adopted under Item 7, the discriminatory Agenda Item which singles out Israel for censure, signaling criticism of Israel.

Main Sponsors

Organization of Islamic Cooperation except Albania

Vote

Yes - 31, No - 14, Abstain - 2, Absent - 0

Key Praise

None

Key Criticism

  • "Deplores the continuing settlement policies and practices in the occupied Syrian Golan, including the plans announced at the end of 2021 to establish and expand illegal settlements..."
  • "Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to cease changing the physical character, demographic composition, institutional structure and legal status of the occupied Syrian Golan..."
  • "Also calls upon Israel to desist from imposing Israeli citizenship and Israeli identity cards on the Syrian citizens in the occupied Syrian Golan..."
  • "Demands that Israel stop its repressive measures against the Syrian citizens in the occupied Syrian Golan, and release immediately the Syrian detainees in Israeli prisons."
  • "Determines that all legislative and administrative measures and actions taken or to be taken by Israel, the occupying Power, including the Knesset’s decision of 22 November 2010 to hold a referendum before any withdrawal from the occupied Syrian Golan and East Jerusalem, that seek to alter the character and legal status of the occupied Syrian Golan are null and void, constitute a flagrant violation of international law and of the Fourth Geneva Convention, and have no legal effect."
  • "Deplores the practices of the Israeli occupation authorities affecting the human rights of the Syrian citizens in the occupied Syrian Golan, including the confiscation of private properties of Syrians by imposing so-called “Israeli documents” on them..."

Full Vote

  • Yes31

    • Algeria
    • Argentina
    • Bangladesh
    • Benin
    • Bolivia
    • Chile
    • China
    • Costa Rica
    • Ivory Coast
    • Cuba
    • Eritrea
    • Gabon
    • Gambia
    • India
    • Kazakhstan
    • Kyrgyzstan
    • Malaysia
    • Maldives
    • Mexico
    • Morocco
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Paraguay
    • Qatar
    • Senegal
    • Somalia
    • South Africa
    • Sudan
    • United Arab Emirates
    • Uzbekistan
    • Vietnam
  • No14

    • Belgium
    • Czech Republic
    • Finland
    • France
    • Georgia
    • Germany
    • Lithuania
    • Luxembourg
    • Malawi
    • Montenegro
    • Romania
    • Ukraine
    • United Kingdom
    • United States
  • Abstain2

    • Cameroon
    • Honduras
  • Absent0