The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Elmedin Konaković, said that Bosnia and Herzegovina remains principled, commenting on the support of the Resolution demanding the withdrawal and end of the illegal Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territory in the UN General Assembly.
As Konaković wrote, BiH remains principled in its positions and respect for international law.
“Today we supported the Resolution demanding the withdrawal and ending of the illegal occupation of the Palestinian territory in the next 12 months, in accordance with the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice,” Konaković wrote.
The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday adopted a Palestinian-proposed resolution demanding that Israel end “its illegal presence in the occupied Palestinian territory” within 12 months. The resolution received 124 votes in favor, while 43 countries abstained, and Israel, the United States of America and 12 other countries voted against.
The decision puts Israel in isolation just days before world leaders head to New York for the annual United Nations gathering. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to address the General Assembly on September 26, the same day as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
The resolution welcomes the International Court of Justice’s July advisory opinion, which declared that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories and settlements is illegal and should end. The advisory opinion, which comes from the UN’s highest court also known as the World Court, said this should be done “as quickly as possible”, although the General
Assembly resolution sets a deadline of 12 months.
The resolution also calls on states to “take steps to end the importation of any products originating in Israeli settlements, as well as the provision or transfer of arms, ammunition and related materials to Israel… where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that they could be used in the occupied Palestinian territory .” This is the first resolution formally proposed by the Palestinian Authority since it gained additional rights and privileges this month, including a seat among UN members in the assembly hall and the right to propose draft resolutions.
The US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, urged countries to vote against on Wednesday. Washington, an arms supplier and ally of Israel, has long opposed unilateral measures that undermine the prospect of a two-state solution. The ICJ’s advisory opinion is not binding, but it carries weight under international law and may weaken support for Israel. The resolution of the General Assembly is also not binding, but carries political weight. There is no right of veto in the assembly.
“Every country has a voice, and the world is watching,” Palestinian UN Ambassador Riyad Mansour told the General Assembly on Tuesday. “Please stand on the right side of history. With international law. With freedom. With peace.”
Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, criticized the General Assembly for not condemning the October 7 attack on Israel by Palestinian Hamas militants, which triggered an Israeli attack on Hamas-controlled Gaza. He rejected the Palestinian text, saying: “Let’s call this what it is: this resolution is diplomatic terrorism, using the tools of diplomacy not to build bridges, but to tear them down.”
Israel conquered the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem – areas of historic Palestine that Palestinians want for their own state – in the 1967 Middle East war and has been building settlements in the West Bank and expanding them ever since, Klix.ba writes.
E.Dz.
