Arab Parliament Welcomes UN Resolution Affirming Palestinian Sovereignty Over Natural Resources

Cairo, November 12 (KUNA) -- The Arab Parliament welcomed today, Thursday, the adoption by the Second Committee of the UN General Assembly of a draft resolution affirming the permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people over their natural resources, with a sweeping majority of 151 votes. In a statement, the Arab Parliament said the vote reflects broad international support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, foremost among them their right to sovereignty over their natural resources, and a rejection of Israeli occupation policies that exploit and plunder these resources in violation of international law and resolutions of the UN Security Council. It stressed that Palestinian natural resources constitute an inherent right of the Palestinian people, from which they cannot be deprived in terms of use or disposal. The Arab Parliament called on the international community to translate this UN position into practical and tangible steps that would compel the Israeli occupation authorities to halt the exploitation of Palestinian natural resources and ensure the Palestinian people’s right to compensation for losses resulting from occupation practices, while holding them accountable for their continuous violations of international law and UN Security Council resolutions. It reiterated that ending the Israeli occupation and enabling the Palestinian people to exercise their legitimate national rights, foremost among them the right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent sovereign state with Jerusalem as its capital, represents the only path to achieving just, comprehensive, and lasting peace in the region. The Second Committee of the UN General Assembly, responsible for economic and financial matters, adopted yesterday, Wednesday, the draft resolution affirming the permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people over their natural resources, with 151 votes in favor, 7 against, and 11 abstentions. The resolution, introduced by the Group of 77 and China, received the support of all European Union member states and Canada, while it was opposed by the United States, Colombia, Paraguay, Palau, Nauru, Micronesia, and the Israeli occupation. Various areas in the occupied West Bank have witnessed an escalation in attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians, their property, and agricultural lands, with the participation of Israeli occupation forces in these attacks, providing protection to settlers, and failing to intervene to stop their assaults. These attacks include burning agricultural lands, uprooting olive trees, seizing agricultural crops and water sources, assaulting farmers, and preventing them from accessing their lands, resulting in economic losses and the displacement of Palestinian families from their homes. According to the latest report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), October recorded 457 attacks carried out by settlers, resulting in injuries or property damage, marking the highest monthly figure since the documentation of such attacks began in 2006. The office documented 377 attacks linked to the olive harvest season between early September and November 2, noting incidents involving settlers accompanied by Israeli occupation forces, which resulted in injuries and forced Palestinian farmers to leave their lands. (End) M.M. / M.N.F.