UN declares 2014 as ‘Year of Solidarity with Palestinians’

The 68th General Assembly has adopted a resolution declaring 2014 as “International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People”. Co-sponsored by more than 30 countries, the resolution received 110 votes in favour, seven against and 56 abstained earlier in the day as the assembly wrapped up discussions on the Palestinian question which began Monday. Australia, Canada, Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Palau and the United States voted “no.” The resolution called for all efforts to promote the realization of the inalienable rights of Palestinians including their right to self-determination, support the Middle East peace process for the achievement of a two-state solution and the just resolution of all final status issues, and to mobilize international support for and assistance to Palestinians. The resolution also affirmed the general assembly’s support for the Middle East peace process on the basis of relevant UN resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid Conference, including the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League of Arab States and a permanent two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Among other things, it welcomed the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations on July 29 aimed at resolving all core final status issues and concluding a final peace agreement within the agreed time frame of nine months.