For the first time in two decades, the United Nations has thrown its support behind Israel’s quest for peace.
It overwhelmingly approved a resolution that welcomed the peace process begun in Madrid in 1991 and expressed full support for the declaration of principles signed between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization in September.
Voting for the resolution on Tuesday were 155 nations, with only Syria, Lebanon and Iran opposing. Libya abstained.
The resolution was introduced by the United States and Russia, cosponsors, of the ongoing peace talks, and Norway, which hosted the secret talks between Israel and the PLO.
The language was worked out by Israel, the PLO, Egypt and Jordan. Morocco and Tunisia were among the many cosponsors of the resolution,
“This is the first positive resolution by the General Assembly concerning the Middle East and Israel since the passage of resolutions 242 and 338,” said Israeli Ambassador Gad Yaacobi.
He was referring to resolutions passed in the wakes of the Six Day and Yom Kippur Wars, which called for Israel to return territory to its neighbors in exchange for peace and which were the basis for the current peace talks.
The vote was held a day after the scheduled date for Israel to begin withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank slipped by, with implementation of the Israel-PLO accord deadlocked over the details.
JERUSALEM, GOLAN RESOLUTIONS ALSO PASSED
In applauding the agreement, the U.N. diverged sharply from its reaction to the Camp David accords Israel signed with Egypt, which the world body repeatedly condemned.
The resolution also supported the agreement between Israel and Jordan on a common negotiating agenda, and urged all parties to implement the agreements reached.
It further urged member states to provide economic, financial and technical assistance to “the Palestinian people” and “states in the region,” and to “render support for the peace process.”
The resolution concluded by encouraging “regional development and cooperation in the areas where work has already begun within the framework of the Madrid Conference.”
Approval for the peace process did not prevent the General Assembly from passing resolutions concerning Jerusalem and the Golan Heights. Those resolutions were opposed by Israel.
The resolution concerning Jerusalem was supported by 141 states, with 11 abstaining, and Israel alone opposed.
Israel received more support on the Golan Heights, reflecting the state of the peace negotiations: 65 states voted for the resolution, 85 abstained, and the United States joined Israel in voting against the resolution.
Despite these defeats, Israeli officials predicted that when the General Assembly concludes voting on the whole package of Middle East resolutions, further diplomatic gains will be evident.
“The General Assembly will overturn, defer and change prior resolutions which are worn-out, negative and irrelevant,” Yaacobi predicted.
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