UNITED NATIONS — The UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted two resolutions
requesting Israel to withdraw from the occupied Palestinian territories and
occupied Syrian Golan, reaffirming the two-state solution as the only path to
lasting peace in the Middle East.
In a resolution, passed with 157 votes in favour, eight
against and seven abstentions, the General Assembly demanded Israel cease all
settlement activities and evacuate settlers from the occupied Palestinian
territory, Xinhua news agency reported.
The document expressed "unwavering support, in
accordance with international law, for the two-state solution of Israel and
Palestine," emphasising the need to urgently commit to a Middle East peace
process.
The assembly also adopted another resolution declaring
that Israel has failed to comply with Security Council resolution 497 of 1981
and its jurisdiction imposed on the occupied Syrian Golan is null and void.
The resolution urged Israel to resume talks on the Syrian
and Lebanese tracks and to withdraw from all occupied Syrian Golan.
"Peace and security will never be achieved through
force or occupation," UNGA President Philemon Yang said in the meeting.
The two-state solution is the only path to lasting peace
in the Middle East, he said, adding "After more than a year of war and
suffering, the realisation of this vision is more urgent than ever
before."
Calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the
unconditional release of all hostages, Yang said now is the time for all to
"bury the hatchet for once and for all."
