NEWS – India joined 141 other nations in supporting a UN General Assembly resolution endorsing the New York Declaration on the peaceful settlement of the Palestine issue and the implementation of the two-state solution. The US, Israel, Hungary, and Argentina were among those opposing it.

HIGHLIGHTS

The New York Declaration

The declaration was circulated at a high-level international conference in July, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia at the UN headquarters. It emphasized collective international action to end the war in Gaza and achieve a just, peaceful, and lasting resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the effective implementation of the two-state solution.

Key Provisions of the Declaration

• Commitment from Israel: The declaration urged Israeli leadership to make a clear, public commitment to the two-state solution, including recognition of a sovereign and viable Palestinian state.
• End to Violence and Settlements: It called for an immediate halt to violence, settlement expansion, land grabs, and annexation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem.
• Rejection of Annexation Policies: Israel was asked to renounce annexation projects and settlement policies while curbing settlers’ violence.
• Palestinian Rights: The declaration reaffirmed the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.

Significance and Context

The declaration underscored the severe humanitarian cost of the ongoing conflict, warning that without decisive measures and robust international guarantees, peace in the region would remain unattainable. It highlighted the urgency of addressing the crisis to prevent further escalation with grave implications for regional and global security.

India’s Position

By voting in favour, India reaffirmed its longstanding support for a two-state solution and peaceful coexistence between Israel and Palestine, aligning with its consistent stance in multilateral forums.