UNSC Resolution 2334 and Israel’s Settlement Programme
United Nation’s Security Council (UNSC) has passed a resolution 2334 on 23 December, 2016, asking Israel to stop its illegal settlements programme in the occupied Palestinian territories. The resolution was adopted by Security Council by a 14-0 in favour and with only United States abstaining. The passage of the resolution assumes significance because Israel’s pre-eminent supporter, US, remained absent during the voting. In contrast, US vetoed a similar resolution in 2011 against Israel. This time the resolution has been passed breaking the long-standing American practice of sheltering Israel from condemning resolutions.
Background
Israel’s illegal settlement programme on confiscated or stolen Palestinian land is one of the core issues of conflict between Israel and Palestine. The settlements are considered illegal under the international law. UN has observed that the demolition of Palestine homes and businesses is carried out at an alarming rate in the West Bank. About 140 settlements consisting of 5 lakh Jews have been built since Israel’s 1967 occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. In 1967, Israel seized the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. Though Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005, it has been occupying the West Bank for nearly 50 years. Israel’s settlement programme has cast doubts over its commitments towards a two-state solution.
UNSC Resolution 2334
UN Security Council resolution, 2334, has condemned Israel for its illegal settlement programme in the occupied territory of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The resolution has called that the Jewish settlements are a flagrant violation under international law and a major impediment to the achievement to the two-state solution. The Egyptian-drafted resolution was initially withdrawn after Israel pressurized Egypt to withdraw the resolution, which it did. But the resolution was subsequently proposed again by Malaysia, New Zealand, Senegal and Venezuela. The international community expects that the successful passage of the resolution will give push towards the two-state solution.
Previous resolutions
The UNSC has earlier passed a serious of resolutions, 242, 252, 298, within the next decade of the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, asking Israel to withdraw from the territories it occupied during the 1967 war. Also, the UN resolution 446 (1979) had called Israel to desist from constructing settlements in the occupied territory.
Settlement and its legality
Settlements are Jewish-only communities which are illegally built by Israel in the territories occupied by it in 1967. Israeli settlements are found to be directly violating various international conventions and protocols. It is found to be in violation of Article 49 of the 4th Geneva Convention (forbids building of settlements in the occupied land) and Article 55 of the Hague Regulations (states that the occupying power’s role is to safeguard and maintain status quo in the occupied territory).
Two state solution
The two-state solution calls for an independent State of Palestine alongside the State of Israel within secure and recognized borders. The framework of the two-state solution is present in the UN resolutions dating back to 1974. The boundary between the two states is still under dispute with Palestinian leadership insisting on the 1967 borders and Israel refusing it.
Questions & Answers
The above topic must be understood in the light of below questions:
- What may be the implications of the recent resolution?
- What are stands of Israel and Palestine?
What may be the implications of the recent resolution?
As the resolution is recommendatory in nature, it may not affect the ongoing process. But the resolution is considered as a diplomatic blow to Israel with its major supporter, the US, refusing to veto it. The most important implication of the resolution is that it opens the door to a full-fledged criminal investigation into the excesses committed by Israel. As Palestine became a recognised state of UN in 2012 and a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC) since 2014, Resolution 2334 may produce a political will to conduct a rigorous investigation of Israeli excesses by ICC. This may threaten the Israeli settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem as well as the Israeli soldiers to commit any future excesses in Gaza.
What are stands of Israel, Palestine, US and UN?
Israel has condemned the Resolution 2334 and has said that it would not abide by it. It has also threatened to stop funding UN organizations which are hostile to Israel. In addition, it has ordered its ambassadors for New Zealand and Senegal to return for consultations. It has cut all aid programmes to Senegal. It is to be noted that Israel does not have any diplomatic ties with Malaysia and Venezuela.
Palestine’s stand
Palestine has welcomed the resolution and has said that the resolution is a big blow to the Israel’s policy.
US
The US has said that the settlement problem had been accelerating and threatening the two-state solution. However, Obama’s successor Donald Trump has said that his government would strongly support Israeli government positions and has even threatened to stop US funding to the UN.
UN
The UN has condemned Israel’s demolition of Palestinian homes and businesses in the West Bank which has cast doubts over its commitment to a two-state solution. UN’s new secretary-General, António Guterres, has announced that he will send a UN Support Mission to give a push for a two-state solution.
