Chair of the UN General Assembly’s Fourth Committee, November 8, 2016,
which today adopted 9 resolutions against Israel.
GENEVA, Nov. 8, 2016 – The U.N. General Assembly adopted 10 resolutions singling out Israel today, with only 4 expected to be adopted later this week for the entire rest of the world combined, with one each on Syria, Iran, North Korea and Crimea. See UN Watch’s full list and voting records below.
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The resolutions were adopted in their first reading today before the UNGA’s Second and Fourth Committees. All 193 UN member states participate in the committee stage, and then almost always vote the same way when formally adopting the texts at the GA plenary in December.
On the renewal of the mandate of a special committee to investigate “Israeli practices,” one of the 10 resolutions passed today, the vote was 86 in favor, 71 abstaining, and 7 opposed, with the U.S., Canada and Australia joining the Jewish state, backed by Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau.
Those abstaining included EU members, as well as several from Africa and Latin America, including Argentina, Mexico and Costa Rica.
“The U.N.’s assault on Israel today with a torrent of one-sided resolutions is surreal,” said Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch, a Geneva-based non-governmental watchdog organization.
“Even as Syrian president Bashar Assad is preparing for the final massacre of his own people in Aleppo, the U.N. adopted a resolution — drafted and co-sponsored by Syria — which falsely condemns Israel for ‘repressive measures’ against Syrian citizens on the Golan Heights. It’s obscene,” said Neuer.
“While there will be a total of 20 resolutions against Israel this session, not a single U.N. General Assembly resolution is planned today for gross human rights abusers such as Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Venezuela, China, or Cuba.”
“At a time when Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his state-controlled media incite to the continued stabbing and shooting of Israeli Jews, the UN’s response is to reflexively condemn Israel in ten separate resolutions, each of them one-sided, each of them utterly silent on Palestinian abuses.”
The resolution drafted annually by Syria condemns Israel for holding on to the Golan Heights, and demands Israel hand the land and its people to Syria.
“It’s astonishing,” said Neuer. “At a time when the Syrian regime is killing its own people by the hundreds of thousands, how can the U.N. call for more people to be subject to Assad’s rule? The timing of today’s text is morally galling, and logically absurd.”
“Today’s resolutions claim to care about Palestinians, yet the U.N. is oblivious to the dozens of Palestinians who in the past month have been slaughtered, maimed and expelled by Assad’s forces, and more than 3,000 victims killed since 2011.”
“Today’s farce at the General Assembly underscores a simple fact: the U.N.’s automatic majority has no interest in truly helping Palestinians, nor in protecting anyone’s human rights; the goal of these ritual, one-sided condemnations remains the scapegoating of Israel,” said Neuer.
“The U.N.’s disproportionate assault against the Jewish state undermines the institutional credibility of what is supposed to be an impartial international body. Politicization and selectivity harm its founding mission, eroding the U.N. Charter promise of equal treatment to all nations large and small,” Neuer added.
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Resolutions adopted today by UNGA’s Fourth Committee:
1. “Assistance to Palestine refugees” – A/C.4/71/L.7
Vote: 159 votes in favor (including the EU, which also co-sponsored) to 1 against (Israel), with 8 abstentions (Cameroon, Canada, Côte d’Ivoire, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Paraguay, United States).
Past votes on same resolution
70th Session Res. 70/83: 167-1-11 (No: Israel)
69th Session Res. 69/86: 163-1-10 (No: Israel)
62nd Session Resolution 62/102: 171-2-6
61st Session Resolution 61/112: 173-1-10
60th Session Resolution 60/100: 161-1-11
59th Session Resolution 59/117: 167-1-11
58th Session Resolution 58/91: 167-1-8
57th Session Resolution 57/117: 158-1-5
56th Session Resolution 56/52: 151-2-2
55th Session Resolution 55/123: 156-1-3
54th Session Resolution 54/69: 155-1-2
2. “Persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities” – A/C.4/71/L.8
Vote: 156 in favor (including the EU) to 6 against (Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, United States), with 6 abstentions (Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Honduras, Paraguay, Togo, Vanuatu).
Past votes on same resolution
70th Session Res. 70/84: 164-7-7 (No: Canada, Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, United States)
69th Session Res. 69/87: 165-7-6 (No: Canada, Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, United States)
62nd Session Resolution 62/103: 171-6-2
61st Session Resolution 61/113: 170-6-8
60th Session Resolution 60/101: 161-6-5
59th Session Resolution 59/118: 162-6-9
58th Session Resolution 58/92: 106-5-65
57th Session Resolution 57/119: 155-5-3
56th Session Resolution 56/54: 151-3-1
55th Session Resolution 55/125: 156-2-2
54th Session Resolution 54/71: 154-2-2
3. “Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East” – A/C.4/71/L.9
Vote: 158 in favor (including the EU) to 6 against (Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, United States), with 4 abstentions (Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Paraguay, Vanuatu).
Past votes on same resolution
70th Session Res. 70/85: 169-6-5 (No: Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, United States)
69th Session Res. 69/88: 166-6-6 (No: Canada, Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Palau, United States)
62nd Session Resolution 62/104: 170-6-3
61st Session Resolution 61/114: 169-6-8
60th Session Resolution 60/102: 159-6-3
59th Session Resolution 59/119: 163-6-7
58th Session Resolution 58/93: 162-5-8
57th Session Resolution 57/121: 155-5-4
56th Session Resolution 56/123: 151-3-1
55th Session Resolution 55/127: 157-2-2
54th Session Resolution 54/73: 154-2-1
4. “Palestine refugees’ properties and their revenues” – A/C.4/71/L.10
Vote: 156 in favor (including the EU, which also co-sponsored) to 6 against (Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, United States), with 6 abstentions (Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Honduras, Paraguay, Togo, Vanuatu).
Past votes on same resolution
70th Session Res. 70/86: 167-7-4 (No: Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, United States)
69th Session Res. 69/89: 165-7-6 (No: Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, United States)
62nd Session Resolution 62/105: 170-6-3
61st Session Resolution 61/115: 170-6-8
60th Session Resolution 60/103: 160-6-3
59th Session Resolution 59/120: 161-6-9
58th Session Resolution 58/94: 164-5-4
57th Session Resolution 57/120: 159-5-2
56th Session Resolution 56/57: 150-3-1
55th Session Resolution 55/128: 156-2-2
54th Session Resolution 54/74: 154-2-2
5. “Work of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories” – A/C.4/71/L.11
Vote: 86-7-71 (No: Australia, Canada, Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Palau, USA)
Past votes on same resolution
70th Session Res. 70/87: 92-9-75 (No: Australia, Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Panama, USA)
69th Session Res. 69/90: 88-9-79 (No: Australia, Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Panama, USA)
62nd Session Res. 62/106: 93-8-74
61st Session Res. 61/116: 90-9-81
60th Session Res. 60/104: 86-10-74
59th Session Res. 59/121: 84-9-80
58th Session Res. 58/96: 87-7-78
57th Session Res. 57/124: 86-6-66
56th Session Res. 56/59: 84-4-58
55th Session Res. 55/130: 91-2-61
54th Session Res. 54/76: 84-2-67
6. “Applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the other occupied Arab territories” – A/C.4/71/L.12
Vote: 155 votes in favor (including the EU) to 6 against (Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, United States), with 6 abstentions (Australia, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Paraguay, Rwanda, Togo).
Past votes on same resolution
70th Session Res. 70/88: 163-6-8 (No: Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, United States)
69th Session Res. 69/91: 163-7-9 (No: Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, United States)
62nd Session Resolution 62/107: 169-6-3
61st Session Resolution 61/117: 165-7-10
60th Session Resolution 60/105: 158-6-7
59th Session Resolution 59/122: 160-7-11
58th Session Resolution 58/97: 164-6-4
57th Session Resolution 57/125: 155-6-3
56th Session Resolution 56/60: 148-4-2
55th Session Resolution 55/131: 152-2-2
54th Session Resolution 54/77: 154-2-1
7. “Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan” – A/C.4/71.L.13
Vote: 153 in favor (including the EU, which also co-sponsored) to 6 against (Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, United States), with 7 abstentions (Australia, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Honduras, Paraguay, Rwanda, Togo).
Past votes on same resolution
70th Session Res. 70/89: 161-7-8 (No: Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, United States)
69th Session Res. 69/91: 159-7-12 (No: Canada, Israel, Marshall islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, United States)
62nd Session resolution 62/108: 165-7-5
61st Session Resolution 61/118: 162-8-10
60th Session Resolution 60/106: 153-7-10
59th Session Resolution 59/123: 155-8-15
58th Session Resolution 58/98: 156-6-13
57th Session Resolution 57/126: 152-6-3
56th Session Resolution 56/61: 145-4-3
55th Session Resolution 55/132: 152-4-0
54th Session Resolution 54/78: 149-3-3
8. “Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem” – A/C.4/71/L.14
Vote: Approved with 151 votes in favor (including the EU) to 7 against (Australia, Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, United States), with 6 abstentions (Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Honduras, Paraguay, Rwanda, Togo).
Past votes on same resolution
70th Session Res. 70/90: 158-8-10 (No: Australia, Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, United States)
69th Session Res. 69/92: 158-8-11 (No: Australia, Canada, Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, United States)
62nd Session Resolution 62/109: 156-7-11
61st Session Resolution 61/119: 157-9-14
60th Session Resolution 60/107: 148-7-17
59th Session Resolution 59/124: 149-7-22
58th Session Resolution 58/99: 150-6-19
57th Session Resolution 57/127: 148-6-6
56th Session Resolution 56/62: 145-4-2
55th Session Resolution 55/133: 150-3-1
54th Session Resolution 54/79: 150-2-3
9. “The occupied Syrian Golan” – A/C.4/71/L.15
Vote: 153 in favor (including the EU) to 1 against (Israel), with 13 abstentions (USA, Cameroon, Canada, Cote d’Ivoire, Honduras, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Paraguay, Rwanda, Togo, Tonga).
70th Session Res. 70/91: 160-1-16 (USA abstains, as usual)
69th Session Res. 69/94: 162-1-15
62nd Session Resolution 62/110: 164-1-10
61st Session Resolution 61/120: 163-2-16 (No: Israel, Tuvalu)
60th Session Resolution 60/108: 156-1-15
59th Session Resolution 59/125: 160-2-15 (No: Israel, Palau)
58th Session Resolution 58/100: 163-1-11
57th Session Resolution 57/128: 155-1-9
56th Session Resolution 56/63: 147-2-3 (No: Israel, Marshall Islands)
55th Session Resolution 55/134: 150-1-4
54th Session Resolution 54/80: 150-1-5
Resolution adopted by UNGA’s Second Committee:
10. “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” – A/C.2/71/L.35
Vote: 155 in favor (including the EU) and 8 against (Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, South Sudan, United States), with 10 abstentions.
Past votes on same resolution
70th Session Res. 70/225: 164-5-10 (No: Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, United States)
69th Session Res. 69/L.33: 165-6-9
62nd Session Resolution 62/181: 166-7-6
61st Session Resolution 61/184: 164-6-9
60th Session Resolution 60/183: 156-6-8
59th Session Resolution 59/251: 156-5-11
58th Session Resolution 58/229: 142-4-9
57th Session Resolution 57/269: 155-4-4
56th Session Resolution 56/204: 148-4-4
55th Session Resolution 55/209: 147-2-3
54th Session Resolution 54/230: 145-3-6
Resolutions scheduled to be adopted later this week by UNGA’s Third Committee:
1.”Declaration on the Right to Peace” A/C.3/71/L.29 (Proposed by Syria, North Korea, Venezuela, Cuba, Algeria, Bolivia, Eritrea, Namibia, Nicaragua and Vietnam)
- “Acknowledging that the fuller development of a culture of peace is integrally linked to the realization of the right of all peoples, including those living under colonial or other forms of alien domination or foreign occupation, to self-determination”
- “Convinced that any attempt aimed at the partial or total disruption of the national unity and territorial integrity of a State or country or at its political independence is incompatible with the purposes and principles of the [UN] Charter”
2. Situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic A/C.3/71/L.24
3. Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran A/C.3/71/L.25
4.Situation of human rights in North Korea
5. Situation of human rights in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol (Ukraine) A/C.3/71/L.26
