Context:

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has adopted a resolution calling on Israel to end its illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories within a year.

More on the news

• India abstained in the UNGA on a resolution that demanded that Israel bring an end, “without delay”, to its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
• The resolution calls for Israel to comply with international law and withdraw its military forces, immediately cease all new settlement activity, evacuate all settlers from occupied land.
• The 193-member General Assembly adopted the resolution, with 124 nations voting in favour, 14 against and 43 abstentions.
• Those abstaining included Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, Nepal, Ukraine and the United Kingdom. Nations voting against the resolution included Israel and the US.
• It was the first time in the history of the UN that Palestine introduced its own draft resolution for voting in the 193-member General Assembly.

India’s opinion on resolution

• India's abiding commitment to achieving a just, peaceful and lasting solution to the Israel-Palestine issue and reiterated that only a two-state solution achieved through direct and meaningful negotiations between both sides will lead to enduring peace.
• India underlined that it is a strong advocate of dialogue and diplomacy and efforts should be made towards building bridges, not furthering divides.

United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)

• It was established in 1945 under the Charter of the United Nations. 
• UNGA is the main deliberative, policy-making and representative organ of the Organization.  
• All 193 Member States of the UN are represented in the General Assembly, making it the only UN body with universal representation. 
• Each year, in September, the full UN membership meets in the General Assembly Hall in New York for the annual General Assembly session.