How Has Israel Altered Its Occupation of Palestinian Land Over The Years?
Israel has occupied Palestinian land since 1948, when it declared independence and captured more territory than had been proposed in the UN partition plan.
This resulted in the displacement of around 700,000 Palestinians. In 1967, Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem, as well as other territories from Syria and Egypt, during the six-day war.
While the Sinai Peninsula was returned to Egypt, the other captured territories remain under Israeli control.
Israel has also established numerous Jewish settlements in the West Bank, which are considered illegal by much of the international community and an obstacle to peace.
There have been incidents of violence and killings of Palestinians by Israeli forces.
The UN has called on Israel to withdraw from the territories it captured in the 1967 war, but it has not yet happened and the fate of Palestinian self-determination remains uncertain.
What Does The Resolution Seek To Do?
The UNGA passed a resolution on December 30 asking the ICJ to provide an advisory opinion on the legal consequences of Israel’s occupation, settlement, and annexation of Palestinian land, including measures to alter the character and status of Jerusalem.
The resolution received unanimous support from Arab nations, but was rejected by the US and major European powers abstained.
When a referral is made to the ICJ, it can either lead to a settlement with a party withdrawing its case or a trial followed by a verdict.
The ICJ’s rulings are binding, but it lacks the power to enforce them.
How Does The New Israeli Government Look At The Conflict With Palestine?
Benjamin Netanyahu has returned as Israel’s Prime Minister for a sixth time, leading the most far-right coalition in the country’s history.
The current coalition includes five ultra-orthodox and far-right Jewish nationalist parties.
There are concerns that the hard-line regime will have negative impacts on Palestinians, as several of Netanyahu’s key allies, including most of the Religious Zionism party, are ultranationalist West Bank settlers.
The government’s coalition agreement lists the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the legalisation of illegally built outposts as top priorities.
The agreement also includes a commitment to annex the West Bank “while considering national and international interests.”
