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UN Committee Approves Resolution on Palestinian Right to Self-Determination NEW YORK, November 23, 2011 (WAFA) – The Social, Humanitarian Cultural Affairs Committee (Third Committee) of the United Nations General Assembly approved Tuesday a draft resolution on the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, according to a press release by the General Assembly. The draft resolution, which was presented by Egypt’s representative and called to vote by Israel, was approved by a vote of 166 in favor to 5 against (Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia and the United States), with 4 abstentions (Cameroon, Haiti, Togo and Venezuela). By that text, the Assembly would reaffirm the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, including the right to their independent State of Palestine, said the press release. It added that the Assembly would “urge all states, as well as the specialized agencies and organizations of the United Nations system, to continue to support and assist the Palestinian people in the early realization of their right to self-determination.” Member of the Permanent Observer mission of Palestine to the UN, Nadia Rashid, expressed gratitude to all countries who voted in favor of the resolution, and said the near unanimous vote in favor came at a unique time in the struggle for freedom of the Palestinian people, as they sought to become members of the community of nations, according to the press release. She added that, along with expansion of its illegal settlements, the vote by Israel showed it rejects a peaceful coexistence side-by-side. The two-state solution for peace, which enjoys broad international support, is threatened by Israel’s settlement campaign, the main obstacle to peace, as well as the expansion of its Separation Wall, which are “the real threat to peace, not the resolution.” Rashid stressed that the right to self-determination is not one of the permanent status issues – it is a given inalienable right for all people, including the Palestinian people, and it has been delayed too long. She added that Palestine continues to appeal to the international community to “stand for right before might” and to bring an end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967. R.Q./F.J.
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