Palestinians Propose UN Resolution on Israeli Occupation

The Palestinian Authority announced plans to submit a UN General Assembly resolution in September, aimed at enforcing a recent International Court of Justice ruling that deemed Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories unlawful. Palestinian UN Ambassador Riyad Mansour emphasized the urgency of ending the occupation, stating, 'The time for waiting is over.' The resolution seeks to establish a timeframe for Israel's withdrawal from the West Bank and East Jerusalem, areas the Palestinians claim for an independent state. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the court's ruling, asserting that the territories are part of the Jewish people's historic homeland. The resolution, while significant for advocating a two-state solution, may face challenges due to the US veto power in the Security Council, which historically supports Israel. The ongoing conflict, exacerbated by the war between Israel and Hamas, continues to complicate peace efforts.