United Nations/New Delhi, Sep 19 (Representative) India was among 43 nations that abstained from voting on Wednesday in the United Nations General Assembly on a Palestinian-drafted resolution demanding that Israel end “its unlawful 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 and 12 others voted against it. The non-binding resolution, which was adopted by the UN, also calls on countries to take steps to cease “transfer of arms, munitions and related equipment to Israel”. Besides India, among the major countries that abstained are Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Kenya, Nepal, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.Among the 14 countries that voted against it, are the United States, Israel, Hungary, and Argentina.
The resolution also comes days before the annual UN gathering. According to reports, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due to address the 193-member General Assembly on September 26, the same day as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The resolution is the first to be formally put forward 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.US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield urged countries to vote no on Wednesday. The resolution welcomed a July advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice that said Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories and settlements is illegal and should be withdrawn. Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon criticized the General Assembly on Tuesday for failing to condemn the October 7 attack on Israel by Palestinian Hamas militants that triggered Israel’s assault on the Hamas-run Gaza Strip.He rejected the Palestinian text, saying: “Let’s call this for what it is: this resolution is diplomatic terrorism, using the tools of diplomacy not to build bridges but to destroy them.”