New York, November 19, 2025. — The Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations, Ambassador Ernesto Soberón Guzmán, spoke today at the Fourth Committee of the General Assembly to present draft resolutions A/C.4/80/L.20 and A/C.4/80/L.21, regarding the Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory and the situation in the occupied Syrian Golan.
The Cuban diplomat noted that both texts are based on previous General Assembly resolutions, which have been updated in accordance with recent developments. He reiterated that Cuba upholds the essential principles of international law, including the inadmissibility of acquiring territory by force, as well as the applicability of the Fourth Geneva Convention to the Arab territories occupied since 1967.
When presenting draft resolution L.20, the Permanent Representative recalled the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion of July 19, 2024. He stressed that the complete cessation of Israeli settlement activities is essential to progress toward a two-state solution, and denounced the expansion of settlements, the demolition of Palestinian homes, the forced displacement, and the acts of violence committed by the settlers.
With regard to draft resolution L.21, Ambassador Soberón expressed Cuba's deep concern over the prolonged occupation of the Syrian Golan since 1967 and recalled the illegality of Israel's decision of 1981 to impose its laws on that territory. He reaffirmed that Israel must cease modifying the legal status, demographic composition, and Golan’s institutional structure, and must put an end to the imposition of Israeli citizenship on the Syrian population.
The Permanent Representative also denounced practices aimed at taking possession of the natural resources of the occupied Syrian Golan, in open contradiction to General Assembly and Security Council resolutions on the permanent sovereignty of Arab peoples over their resources.
To conclude, Ambassador Ernesto Soberón Guzmán expressed his hope that both draft resolutions would receive a broad support from Members States and contribute to international efforts aimed at putting an end to the illegal Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and all Arab territories occupied since 1967, ensuring the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and promoting a just, lasting and peaceful solution.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations.