UN adopts resolution asking ICJ to weigh in on Israeli occupation of Palestine

UNITED NATIONS (AA) – The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution Friday that asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to give an advisory opinion on the legal consequences of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories.

Eighty-seven member states voted in favor of the resolution, while 26 countries, including Israel and the US, voted against it. A total of 53 nations abstained.

The resolution asked the Hague-based court, also known as the World Court, to give its opinion ”on the legal consequences arising from the ongoing violation by Israel of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, from its prolonged occupation, settlement and annexation of the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including measures aimed at altering the demographic composition.”

Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour said: ”This vote comes one day after the new Israeli government was formed pledging to accelerate colonial and racist policies against the Palestinian people.

“We trust that, regardless of your vote today, if you believe in international law and peace, you will uphold the opinion of the International Court of Justice when delivered and you will stand up to this Israeli government right now.”

Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, blasted the approval of the resolution and said it was a ”despicable decision” and ”a disgrace to the UN and to any country that supports it.”

”Any decision from a judicial body which receives its mandate from the morally bankrupt and politicized UN is completely illegitimate,” he said.

The UN court last weighed in on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in 2014.