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General Assembly calls for speedy resumption of Middle East peace process

General Assembly calls for speedy resumption of Middle East peace process

The United Nations General Assembly today adopted a resolution calling on all concerned to "ensure a successful and speedy resumption of negotiations and conclusion" of the Middle East peace process.

The text - passed by a recorded vote of 131 in favour to 6 against (Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Tuvalu and the United States), with 20 abstentions - was one of six adopted today as the Assembly concluded its annual debate on the situation in the Middle East and the question of Palestine.

By that resolution, the Assembly also called for an immediate reversal of all measures taken on the ground since the latest wave of violence began on 28 September 2000, as well as the implementation of the Mitchell Committee report.

A resolution on Jerusalem determined that the imposition of Israeli laws, jurisdiction and administration “on the Holy City of Jerusalem is illegal and therefore null and void and has no validity whatsoever.” The Assembly also deplored the transfer by some States of their diplomatic missions to Jerusalem in violation of Security Council resolution 478 (1980). That text was adopted by a vote of 130 in favour to 2 against (Israel, Nauru), with 10 abstentions (Australia, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, United States, Vanuatu, Nicaragua, Haiti and Papua New Guinea).

A resolution on the Syrian Golan was adopted by a recorded vote of 90 in favour and five against (Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Tuvalu, United States) with 54 abstaining. By that draft, the Assembly called on Israel to withdraw from the occupied Syrian Golan.

By another resolution, the Assembly requested the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian people to keep the question of Palestine under review. The Committee was also authorized to continue exerting efforts to promote those rights, adjusting its work programme as necessary in the light of developments while giving special emphasis to the need to mobilize assistance for the Palestinian people. The resolution passed by a vote of 106 in favour to 5 against (Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Tuvalu and the United States), with 48 abstentions.

Regarding the UN Department of Public Information's special programme on the question of Palestine, the Assembly voted 153 in favour to 4 against (Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia and United States), with 3 abstentions (Nauru, Tuvalu and Vanuatu) to request continued work on publications, audiovisual materials, fact-finding missions for journalists, and seminars for members of the media.

A separate resolution requested the Secretary-General to provide the UN Division for Palestinian Rights with the necessary resources and to ensure that it continues to carry out its programme of work. That text was adopted by a vote of 107 in favour, 5 against (Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Tuvalu and the United States), and 47 abstentions.