Lazar Berman
Times of Israel, Sept. 18, 2024
“The ICJ advisory opinion is not binding, but carries weight under international law and may weaken support for Israel. A General Assembly resolution also is not binding, but carries political weight. There is no veto power in the assembly.”
The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution Wednesday demanding that Israel entirely pull out of Palestinian areas within a year, and called for an embargo on arms that Israel might use in those areas. The Foreign Ministry panned the decision as “cynical international politics” that would encourage terrorism and harm the chances for peace. The resolution called for Israel to “end without delay its unlawful presence” in “Occupied Palestinian Territory” within 12 months, including all soldiers and civilians.
The resolution welcomed a July ruling by the International Court of Justice that said Israel’s control of Palestinian territories and settlements is illegal and should be withdrawn.
The advisory by the highest United Nations court, also known as the World Court, said this should be done “as rapidly as possible,” while the General Assembly resolution imposed a 12-month deadline.
The UN also called on states to “take steps towards ceasing the importation of any products originating in the Israeli settlements, as well as the provision or transfer of arms, munitions and related equipment to Israel… where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that they may be used in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”
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