UN General Assembly Resolutions: Resolution 51/190

This resolution, which was not on the agenda in the 1995 General Assembly and was placed there once again to embarrass Israel, expressed concern over Israeli use of natural and water resources in the areas. It confirmed Palestinian sovereignty over natural resources. It was adopted by a vote of 133 in favor, 3 against, 21 abstentions and 28 were absent.

The General Assembly,

Recalling Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/40 of 26 July 1996,

Reaffirming the principle of the permanent sovereignty of people under foreign occupation over their natural resources,

Guided by the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, affirming the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, and recalling Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 465 (1980) of 1 March 1980 and 497 (1981) of 17 December 1981,

Reaffirming the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, to the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967,

Expressing concern at the exploitation by Israel, the occupying Power, of the natural resources of the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967,

Aware of the additional, detrimental economic and social impact of the Israeli settlements on Palestinian and other Arab natural resources, especially the confiscation of land and the forced diversion of water resources,

Welcoming the ongoing Middle East peace process which we started at Madrid on 30 October 1991 and which is based on Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973 and 425 (1978) of 19 March 1978 and the principle of land for peace, in particular the two implementation agreements embodied in the Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area of 4 May 1994 and the Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip of 28 September 1995,

1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;

2. Reaffirms the inalienable right of the Palestinian people and the population of the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources, including land and water;

3. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, not to exploit, to cause loss and depletion of or to endanger the natural resources in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan;

4. Recognizes the right of the Palestinian people to claim restitution as a result of any exploitation, loss or depletion of, or danger to, their natural resources, and expresses the hope that this issue will be dealt with in the framework of the final status negotiation between the Palestinian and Israeli sides;

5. Requests the Secretary-General to report to it, at its fifty-second session, on the implementation of the present resolution, and decides to include in the agenda of its fifty-second session an item entitled "Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources."

Sources: The United Nations