[News] Occupation of Palestine Must End. The U.S. Is Fine With It.

[Anti-Imperialist News]

theintercept.com
<https://theintercept.com/2024/09/18/un-palestine-israel-occupation-resolution/>
Most of the World Agrees Israel’s Occupation of Palestine Must End. The
U.S. Is Fine With It.
Jonah Valdez
September 18, 2024
------------------------------

The United Nations passed a historic resolution Wednesday that calls for
the end of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories in the West Bank,
East Jerusalem, and Gaza, with 124 of the 181 member states voting in favor
of the measure.

The United States, alongside 13 other nations, voted against the
resolution, continuing its unconditional support for Israel’s actions in
Palestine.

The sweeping resolution builds on an unprecedented July 19 ruling from the
U.N.’s top court
<https://theintercept.com/2024/07/19/icj-ruling-palestine-israel-occupation-settlements/>,
the International Court of Justice, which declared Israel’s occupation of
Palestinian territories as an illegal, apartheid system that must cease.
The latest resolution, introduced by Palestine
<https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/ltd/n24/266/48/pdf/n2426648.pdf>,
affirms the July ruling, setting a 12-month timeframe for the withdrawal of
Israeli military from the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including the
removal of Israeli settlers
<https://theintercept.com/2023/10/13/israel-settlers-gaza-palestinians-west-bank/>,
a halt to Israel’s annexation
<https://theintercept.com/2024/08/31/israel-west-bank-strikes-raids-palestine/>
of Palestinian land
<https://theintercept.com/2019/09/11/netanyahu-hints-trump-peace-plan-will-allow-israel-annex-key-west-bank-territory/>,
as well as the return of land seized from Palestinians since the occupation
began in 1967
<https://theintercept.com/2017/06/05/a-50-year-occupation-israels-six-day-war-started-with-a-lie/>
.

Wednesday’s vote had 124 nations in favor
<https://x.com/jonahmv/status/1836431234806981067> of the resolution, 14
against, and 43 abstaining. In addition to the United States and Israel,
the coalition of 14 nations opposing the resolution included just two
European states, Czechia and Hungary; two South American countries,
Argentina and Paraguay; the African nation of Malawi; Papua New Guinea; and
six tiny Pacific Island nations.

“This resolution makes it abundantly clear that the vast majority of the
international community support the findings of the International Court of
Justice that Israel’s 57-year occupation of the Occupied Palestinian
Territory is a violation of international law and should not be allowed to
continue,” said Jessica Peake, an international law professor at UCLA Law,
adding that vote is “historic” given Palestine’s status as a new member of
the United Nations General Assembly.
After the assembly approved a resolution — despite U.S. opposition
<https://usun.usmission.gov/explanation-of-vote-delivered-at-the-un-general-assembly-emergency-special-session-on-the-palestinian-un-membership-resolution/>
— in May, the State of Palestine has been seated among member states and
given the right to introduce proposals and participate in committees, but
still cannot vote.

However, the U.N. resolution, much like the U.N. court’s July opinion, is
not legally binding, and the U.N. has no way of enforcing its rulings.

“And so now it’s on other member states in the international community to
really put pressure on Israel and its allies to make that happen,” Peake
said. She mentioned potential levers to get Israel to act, such as
countries more vocally urging the end of the illegal occupation,
withholding military aid, and issuing further sanctions. The United States
sends billions of dollars of military aid to Israel each year.

Much of the opposition against the resolution had to do with its scope,
with some nations arguing it goes beyond what the July advisory opinion
asks for. Nations who voted against the resolution, or abstained,
criticized the 12-month timeframe of ending the occupation as unrealistic
and said Israel needs to be a more significant negotiating partner. U.S.
Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield previously said the
resolution further undermines efforts to negotiate a two-state solution.
President Joe Biden’s administration, much like previous administrations,
has said it supports Palestinian sovereignty and a two-state solution but
has yet to lay out any viable path toward accomplishing it.

Further obscuring any efforts toward Palestinian statehood,
Thomas-Greenfield said during a panel at the Council of Foreign Affairs in
New York that Palestine is not ready to be an independent nation
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ot6IP_-MRY&ab_channel=TRTWorld>. “I do
not believe the Palestinians, as they exist right now, have all of the
elements to give it statehood,” she said, adding that she had concerns
around “issues of peace and security.”

Even so, Peake said the U.N.’s recognition of Israel as an occupying power
is accurate and said the 12-month timeframe gives the resolution a needed
deadline.

“Otherwise, we just have some rather nebulous statement that is encouraging
Israel to withdraw,” she said. “I think it really helps us see 12 months
from now, what has Israel done? It puts a time limit on it — it puts a
moment in time where the international community can look at Israel’s
behavior and take stock of has it, or has it not, fulfilled the
recommendations that the General Assembly has made through this resolution.”

Ahead of the vote, more than 30 human rights groups released a letter
urging U.N. members to vote in favor of the resolution, as well as the end
of weapons sales and transfers to Israel. The letter listed violations of
humanitarian law, such as the use of arms to attack Palestinian civilians,
including children
<https://theintercept.com/2024/03/23/intercepted-doctor-gaza-interview/>,
arbitrarily imprisoning Palestinians
<https://theintercept.com/2023/11/29/intercepted-israel-palestine-prisoner-hostage/>,
and the deprivation of freedom of movement and medical assistance
<https://theintercept.com/2024/05/17/gaza-american-doctors-evacuated/>.

“Failure to adhere to the ICJ’s advisory opinion will send a message that
states can be selective in their application of international law,” the
letter read. “It is imperative that states reinforce and show their
commitment to international institutions and the international order that
has been in place for nearly 80 years.”
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