The UN’s Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) on Friday voted to approve a motion promoted by the Palestinian Authority to take the legality of Israel's "occupation" to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The committee voted to ask the ICJ for an opinion on the legal status of Israel's "prolonged occupation, settlement and annexation of the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967." The proposal was approved with a majority of 98 countries that voted in favor, and 17 which voted against. 52 countries were absent during the vote. Countries that voted in favor included Belgium, Turkey, Brazil, Egypt, Ireland, Jordan, Morocco, Poland, Slovenia, Ukraine and the United Arab Emirates. Countries that opposed included the United States, Canada, the Czech Republic, Germany, Australia, Austria and Italy. The text, which was officially submitted by Nicaragua since the PA is an observer and not a member state of the UN, asks the ICJ to consider that, due to its continuing nature, the "Israeli occupation" constitutes annexation. The motion now goes to the UN General Assembly, which will vote on the matter next month and, if approved, will then be taken to the ICJ. Israel's Ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, denounced the vote, calling on nations to ask themselves whether they support negotiations and reconciliation or not. (Israel National News' North American desk is keeping you updated until the start of Shabbat in New York. The time posted automatically on all Israel National News articles, however, is Israeli time.)
