UN Watch
• Resolutions on Israel: 15
• Resolutions on Rest of the World: 6
In the current 78th session of the UN General Assembly (2023), EU member states are likely to vote for one resolution each on the human rights situations in Iran, Syria, North Korea, Myanmar, and Crimea. See second table at bottom, showing resolution texts and votes. By contrast, EU states will likely vote in favor of nearly all 14 resolutions singling out Israel.
These same EU states have failed to introduce a single UNGA resolution this year on the human rights situation in China, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, Cuba, Turkey, Pakistan, Vietnam, Algeria, or on 175 other countries.
Below are the resolutions on Israel that have been adopted, or that are expected to be adopted, in the 78th Session (2023) of the UN General Assembly.
UN Watch opposes the adoption of one-sided and counterproductive resolutions at the United Nation. We have launched a campaign urging countries to oppose them.
Click here to take action: Demand that your country end its biased votes that demonize Israel.
RESOLUTIONS SINGLING OUT ISRAEL
| Resolution | Extracts | Analysis |
|
“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.4/78/L.13] 4th Cttee Vote (Nov. 9, 2023)
Plenary vote: TBD
|
“Deplores those policies and practices of Israel that violate the human rights of the Palestinian people and other Arabs of the occupied territories, as reflected in the report of the Special Committee covering the reporting period…” | Perpetuates committee with blatantly biased mandate of examining only Israeli actions, but ignoring Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Fatah terrorism. Contrary to international law and resolution 242, claims that occupation is itself a violation. Resolution falsely accuses Israel of indiscriminate force against civilians and provocations and incitements against “the holy places.” At the same time, it completely ignores Palestinian use of the Al Aqsa Mosque as a vehicle for antisemitic incitement, thereby also denying the Jewish connection to the Temple Mount. Furthermore, the one-sided accusation against Israel disregards Palestinian attacks against Jewish holy sites, such as Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus. |
“The occupied Syrian Golan” [A/C.4/78/L.14] 4th Cttee Vote (Nov. 9, 2023)
Plenary vote: TBD
|
“Determines that all legislative and administrative measures and actions taken or to be taken by Israel, the occupying Power, that purport to alter the character and legal status of the occupied Syrian Golan are null and void…” | Ignores the existence of the Syrian Civil War and its security implications for Israel and the civilians of the Golan Heights. Also ignores Syria’s history of shelling Israeli communities, its leader’s calls for a “war of annihilation” against Israel, and Syria’s 1967 aggression that led to its loss of the territory. Also neglects Syria’s sponsorship of the enemies of the peace process, and its support for terrorism. Falsely claims that Israel is oppressing and imposing Israeli citizenship on the Arab population of the Golan Heights. |
|
“Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan” [A/C.4/78/L.15] 4th Cttee Vote (Nov. 9, 2023):
Plenary vote: TBD
|
“Reaffirms that the Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan are illegal and an obstacle to peace and economic and social development…” | Adopts Palestinian position on issues that Oslo Accords left to negotiations, such as settlements and borders. Israel is treated with disdain in comparison to praise and deference to governments in other country resolutions. Makes sweeping legal pronouncements on disputed matters, for example by accusing Israel of violating international law for ordering demolitions of illegally built structures in territory over which it has administrative control. Makes an immoral equivalence between Palestinian terror and violence and Israeli countermeasures. Specifically condemns incitement by “Israeli settlers,” but fails to expressly condemn widespread, official terrorist and antisemitic incitement by Palestinian officials, media and education. |
|
“Assistance to Palestine refugees” [A/C.4/78/L.11] 4th Cttee Vote (Nov. 9, 2023):
Plenary vote: TBD
|
“Expressing grave concern at the especially difficult situation of the Palestine refugees under occupation, including with regard to their safety, well-being and socioeconomic living conditions…” | Resolution serves Arab states that seek to preserve Palestinians as pawns in political campaign to delegitimize Israel. Intent and effect of singling out Palestinian from all refugee claims in the world is to isolate and demonize Israel. Omits any reference to Lebanon’s discrimination against Palestinian refugees in that country or the Syrian Assad regime’s collective punishment of Palestinian refugees in that country and their treatment as second-class citizens. Redundant to three other resolutions adopted on same day (see in this chart) dealing with refugees and UNRWA. |
|
“Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East” [A/C.4/78/L.10] 4th Cttee Vote (Nov. 9, 2023)
Plenary vote: TBD
|
“Reiterates its call upon Israel to fully lift the restrictions impeding or delaying the import of necessary construction materials and supplies for the reconstruction and repair of the remaining damaged or destroyed refugee shelters, and for the implementation of suspended and urgently needed civilian infrastructure projects in refugee camps in the Gaza Strip…” |
Perpetuates anomaly whereby Palestinians are the only people not served by UNHCR but instead by special agency. Resolution makes one-sided condemnations of Israeli actions, but silent on Palestinian terrorism against Israelis and abuses of Palestinian forces against their own citizens. Ignores UNRWA admission that members of Hamas, a terrorist organization, were on its payroll. Resolution calls on Israel to allow construction materials into the Gaza Strip yet fails to acknowledge Hamas use of such materials to build attack tunnels and other terror infrastructure. |
|
“Palestine refugees’ properties and their revenues” [A/C.4/78/L.12] 4th Cttee Vote (Nov. 9, 2023)
Plenary vote: TBD
|
“Reaffirms that the Palestine refugees are entitled to their property and to the income derived therefrom, in conformity with the principles of equity and justice…” | One-sided resolution ignores claims of 900,000 Jewish refugees displaced from Arab lands. Repeats statements previously established for purpose of censuring Israel and is redundant to other resolutions. Prejudges negotiations. |
|
“The risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East” [A/C.1/78/L.2] 1st Cttee Vote (Oct. 27, 2023)
Plenary vote: TBD |
“Recalling that Israel remains the only State in the Middle East that has not yet become a party to the Treaty…” | Resolution singles out Israel while ignoring menacing actions of other states, including Iran’s illegal efforts to acquire nuclear weapons in defiance of Security Council and IAEA resolutions. Ignores overt and repeated threats against the existence of Israel by neighboring states in the region. |
|
“Oil slick on Lebanese shores” [A/C.2/78/L.21] 2nd Cttee Vote (Nov. 9, 2023)
Plenary vote: TBD |
“Reiterates, for the eighteenth consecutive year, its deep concern about the adverse implications of the destruction by the Israeli Air Force of the oil storage tanks in the direct vicinity of the Lebanese Jiyeh electric power plant for the achievement of sustainable development in Lebanon…” | One-sided resolution completely ignores Hezbollah’s role in launching hostilities, firing 4,000 rockets and burning 500,000 trees in Northern Israel. Ignores Lebanon’s non-compliance with SC Resolutions on dismantling Hezbollah. Singles out Israel as only country to be censured under Sustainable Development agenda item. |
|
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.2/78/L.44] 2nd Cttee Vote (Nov. 9, 2023)
Plenary vote: TBD
|
“Expressing its grave concern also about the widespread destruction caused by Israel, the occupying Power, to vital infrastructure, including water pipelines, sewage networks and electricity networks, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory…” | One-sided resolution denies Israel’s right to self-defense by describing every preventative measure as conspiracy against Palestinian resources. Omits mention of Palestinian terrorism or any Palestinian obligation. Also omits Palestinian harm to natural resources, such as destruction of Gaza greenhouses delivered intact by Israel; Hamas’ commandeering of international aid money to fund the construction of terror tunnels rather than to rebuild destroyed infrastructure; environmental pollution caused by Palestinian tire burning; destruction of flora and fauna with arson balloons and kites; and refusal to develop their own water resources and deal with their own sewage as required by the Oslo Accords. |
|
“The right of the Palestinian people to self-determination” [A/C.3/78/L.24] 3rd Cttee Vote (date)
Plenary vote: TBD |
“Recalling the conclusion of the Court, in its advisory opinion of 9 July 2004, that the construction of the wall by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, along with measures previously taken, severely impedes the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination…” | Redundantly asserts a principle that Israel has already recognized. Out of hundreds of self-determination claims worldwide, resolution singles out one: the claim against Israel. Omits Palestinian obligation under the Road Map to dismantle terrorist infrastructure before a state is to be created. The Committee already adopts a self-determination resolution for the whole world titled “Universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination” while singling out Israel with this one resolution for Palestinian self-determination. |
|
“Assistance to the Palestinian people”
Plenary Vote: TBD Adopted by consensus |
Expected text: “Aware that development is difficult under occupation and is best promoted in circumstances of peace and stability. Noting the great economic and social challenges facing the Palestinian people and their leadership…” |
This resolution is more balanced when compared to the other anti-Israel texts. However, its references to the difficulty of occupation for Palestinians indirectly implicates Israel. No other occupied or disputed territory throughout the world receives an annual resolution of this type, making it uniquely critical of Israel. This resolution is typically passed by consensus, without a vote. |
|
“Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine” Plenary Vote: TBD |
Expected text: “Reaffirming the illegality of Israeli settlement activities and all other unilateral measures aimed at altering the demographic composition, character and status of the City of Jerusalem and of the Occupied Palestinian Territory as a whole, including the wall and its associated regime, and demanding their immediate cessation, and condemning any use of force against Palestinian civilians in violation of international law, notably children” |
Blames Israel only for lack of peace. Text is redundant to several other resolutions and serves no effect other than demonization. References to terror fail to name its perpetrators, whereas Israel is named and blamed throughout. |
|
“The Syrian Golan” Plenary Vote: TBD
|
Expected text: “Deeply concerned that Israel has not withdrawn from the Syrian Golan, which has been under occupation since 1967…” |
Redundant to “the Occupied Syrian Golan.” Oblivious to genocidal massacres taking place now in Syria and its security implications for Israel and the civilians of the Golan Heights. Ignores Syria’s history of shelling Israeli communities, its leader’s calls for a “war of annihilation” against Israel, and Syria’s 1967 aggression that led to its loss of the territory. Calls on Israel to negotiate with Syria and Lebanon while not making the same demand of those countries. |
|
“Jerusalem” Plenary Vote: TBD
|
Expected text: “Expressing grave concern over the continued closure of Palestinian institutions in the City as well as acts of provocation and incitement, including by Israeli settlers, including against holy sites.” |
Implies that Israeli administration of Jerusalem hinders freedom of religion when in fact the opposite is true-before 1967, Jordan destroyed Jewish holy sites and denied access to Jews, while under Israel all faiths have access to the city and enjoy full freedoms. Uses of uniformly harsh language against Israel that is not used even against regimes like Iran. Repeated passage of annual resolution to address acts from 1980, or matters already covered in other similar resolutions, serve no purpose other than demonization. Uses only the Islamic term “Haram al-Sharif” to describe Jerusalem’s Temple Mount, ignoring Jewish and Christian religion and history. |
|
“Protection of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations” [A/ES-10/L.25] Plenary Vote (Oct. 27, 2023)
|
“Expressing grave concern at the latest escalation of violence since the 7 October 2023 attack and the grave deterioration of the situation in the region, in particular in the Gaza Strip and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in Israel,” | Outrageously, the resolution failed to condemn Hamas for its October 7th massacre of 1400 Israelis, or for its abduction of more than 200 Israelis including children and babies, or even to mention the word Hamas, after a Canadian amendment to add these elements was voted down. The resolution also failed to recognize Israel’s right to defend itself and its citizens against terrorism. |
RESOLUTIONS ON REST OF THE WORLD
UN Watch opposes the adoption of one-sided resolutions at the United Nations and we have launched a campaign urging countries to oppose them. Click here to take action and demand that your country change its biased votes on Israel.
| Resolution | Votes |
|
“Situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea” [A/C.3/78/L.39] Main Sponsors: European Union |
3rd Committee Vote: TBD Plenary Vote: TBD |
|
“Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran” [A/C.3/78/L.41] Main Sponsor: Canada |
3rd Committee Vote: TBD Plenary Vote: TBD
|
|
“Situation of human rights in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, including the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol” [A/C.3/78/L.42] Main Sponsor: Ukraine |
3rd Committee Vote: TBD Plenary Vote: TBD |
|
“Situation of human rights of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar” [A/C.3/78/L.40] Main Sponsors: The Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the European Union |
3rd Committee Vote: Adopted by consensus
Plenary Vote: TBD |
|
“Situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic” [A/C.3/78/L.43] Main Sponsor: United States and Qatar |
3rd Committee Vote: TBD Plenary Vote: TBD |
|
“Principles of the Charter of the United Nations underlying a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine” [A/RES/ES-11/6] Main Sponsor: Ukraine |
Adopted by Plenary Vote (Feb. 23, 2023):
|
/Public Release. This material from the originating organization/author(s) might be of the point-in-time nature, and edited for clarity, style and length. Mirage.News does not take institutional positions or sides, and all views, positions, and conclusions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s).View in full here.
