Palestinians on Saturday welcomed the United Nations General Assembly’s vote in favor of requesting the International Court of Justice to weigh in on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Israeli “annexation” and the “legal status of the occupation.”
The Palestinians said they see the vote as another victory for the Palestinian people and their issue.
Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh praised the UN vote as “a new victory for the Palestinians and their just cause on the way to achieving their freedom and national independence.”
Shtayyeh said the timing of the vote was significant because it coincided with the rise of the “religious far right parties” to power in Israel. He called on the International Court of Justice to quickly issue an advisory opinion on the Israeli “occupation” in accordance with the UN vote.
Shtayyeh thanked the countries that voted in support of the resolution and called on the UN to provide international protection for the Palestinians until the court issues the advisory opinion.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the vote as “an historic achievement and a diplomatic victory.”
PA, Hamas welcome UN vote
PLO Secretary-General Hussein al-Sheikh praised the UN vote as “a victory for Palestinian diplomacy.” According to al-Sheikh, PA President Mahmoud Abbas had come under pressure to withdraw or delay the Palestinian initiative at the UN, but refused to submit.
Sheikh said the vote affirms the need to punish and hold Israel accountable. “The vote by 87 countries in support of the resolution is a victory for Palestinian rights in light of the international community’s policy of double standards toward certain issues,” he added.
Senior PLO official Ahmed Majdalani said the Palestinians led a “harsh diplomatic battle” at the UN to gain support for the resolution.
“The battle was not only with Israel, but also with the US, which used its power and influence to prevent the approval of the resolution,” Majdalani told the PA’s Voice of Palestine radio station. “The success of the resolution is a victory for Palestinian diplomacy and the big efforts made by President Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian leadership.”
Abbas’s ruling Fatah faction also welcomed the UN vote, describing it as a “victory for Palestinian diplomacy.” Fatah said in a statement that the resolution to ask the International Court of Justice for an advisory opinion on the Israeli “occupation” would have “significant repercussions in favor of the Palestinian cause because it will pave the way for holding Israel accountable.”
According to Fatah, the UN vote came as a result of the Palestinian leadership’s decision to “confront the Israeli occupation and is crimes.”
Hamas also welcomed the UN vote, describing it as “an achievement and an important step toward ending the occupation and its assaults on the national rights of the Palestinian people.” Hamas called for more steps in the international arena to hold Israel accountable