Mr. President,
Cuba is honored to present, along with Namibia, the draft resolutions contained in documents L.20 and L.21 under agenda item 50.
These two draft resolutions are based on resolutions adopted by the General Assembly at its 79th session regarding this issue, with the corresponding technical updates.
The draft resolution contained in the document “Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Including East Jerusalem, and The Occupied Syrian Golan”, recalls all relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council, as well as the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion dated July 19, 2024.
Similarly, it reaffirms the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force and the applicability of the Fourth Geneva Convention to the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including the occupied Syrian Golan.
The text emphasizes that the complete cessation of all Israeli settlement activities is essential to progress towards a two-state solution based on the pre-1967 borders, which includes putting an end to the construction and expansion of settlements, demolition of Palestinian homes and structures, eviction of Palestinian civilians, and to all acts of violence committed by settlers against the Palestinian civilian population and their property.
The draft resolution recalls that the ICJ has determined that Israel’s legislation and measures impose and maintain nearly complete separation between settlers and Palestinians in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. This constitutes a violation of Article 3 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD). Furthermore, it recalls that Israel is obliged to fully repair the damage caused by its internationally wrongful acts.
The draft resolution calls for accountability measures, in accordance with international law, including specific actions against extremist settlers and the entities and organizations that support them, taking into account the continued failures to comply with demands to completely and immediately cease all settlement activities.
Mr. President,
The draft resolution “The Occupied Syrian Golan” expresses the General Assembly’s deep concern that the Syrian Golan, occupied by Israel since 1967, remain under Israeli military occupation. It once again reaffirms the illegality of Israel’s decision of December 14, 1981 to impose its laws, jurisdiction, and administration on the occupied Syrian Golan.
The text references previous General Assembly resolutions, which, among other things, demanded that Israel end its occupation of Arab territories and refrain from altering the occupied Syrian Golan’s physical character, demographic composition, institutional structure, and legal status. In particular, the resolutions demanded Israel to refrain from establishing settlements.
The text also calls on Israel to stop imposing Israeli citizenship and identity documents on Syrian citizens in the occupied Syrian Golan, as well as stop its repressive measures against the population there.
The acquisition of territory by force is inadmissible under international law and the Charter of the United Nations, as is Israel’s illegal military occupation of the Syrian Golan. This occupation continues despite calls from the international community to end it.
Israel’s decades-long occupation of the occupied Syrian Golan is contrary to the principles of the Charter and international law and constitutes a systematic and continuous violation of the human rights of the local population.
Israeli practices and conduct aimed at controlling and seizing the resources of the occupied Syrian Golan are in flagrant contravention of General Assembly and Security Council resolutions concerning the permanent sovereignty of the Arab population of the occupied Syrian Golan over its natural resources, must cease.
Foreign occupation, policies of expansion and aggression, the creation of settlements, and the forcible annexation of foreign territories, such as the Syrian Golan are practices that violate international instruments and norms. These practices negatively impact the human rights of the Syrian people.
In conclusion, Cuba hopes that Member States will support these important draft resolutions and that urgent international measures will be adopted to end Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and all Arab territories occupied since 1967, including the occupied Syrian Golan. These measures should ensure the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to self-determination and independence. Let us advocate for a just, lasting, and peaceful solution to decades of injustice.
Thank you