Palestine and the United Nations#Annually recurring general assembly resolutions

{{See also|San Remo conference|Mandate for Palestine|Mandatory Palestine|United Nations Special Committee on Palestine|United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine|1947–1948 civil war in Mandatory Palestine|1948 Arab–Israeli War|1949 Armistice Agreements|United Nations General Assembly Resolution 194}}

File:UN Partition Plan For Palestine 1947.png in UNGA Res. 181(II)]]

Following World War II and the establishment of the United Nations, the General Assembly resolved[https://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/F5A49E57095C35B685256BCF0075D9C2 A/RES/106 (S-1)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120806072438/http://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/F5A49E57095C35B685256BCF0075D9C2 |date=August 6, 2012 }} of May 15, 1947, General Assembly Resolution 106 Constituting the UNSCOP that a Special Committee be created "to prepare for consideration at the next regular session of the Assembly a report on the question of Palestine." It would consist of the representatives of Australia, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Guatemala, India, Iran, Netherlands, Peru, Sweden, Uruguay and Yugoslavia. In the final report of September 3, 1947,{{cite web|url=http://domino.un.org/unispal.nsf/9a798adbf322aff38525617b006d88d7/07175de9fa2de563852568d3006e10f3?OpenDocument |title=United Nations: General Assembly: A/364: 3 September 1947: Official Records of the Second Session of the General Assembly: Supplement No. 11: Retrieved 4 May 2012 |access-date=October 22, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603150222/http://domino.un.org/unispal.nsf/9a798adbf322aff38525617b006d88d7/07175de9fa2de563852568d3006e10f3?OpenDocument |archive-date=June 3, 2012 }} seven members of the Committee in Chapter VI "expressed themselves, by recorded vote, in favor of the Plan of Partition with Economic Union" (reproduced in the Report). The Plan proposed "an independent Arab State, an independent Jewish State, and the City of Jerusalem". On November 29, 1947, the General Assembly recommended the adoption and implementation of a Plan of Partition with Economic Union, General Assembly Resolution 181, a slightly modified version of that proposed by the majority in the Report of September 3, 1947, 33 votes in favor, 13 against, and 10 abstentions.{{cite web|url=http://domino.un.org/unispal.nsf/0/7f0af2bd897689b785256c330061d253 |title=A/RES/181(II) of 29 November 1947 |publisher=United Nations |year=1947 |access-date=January 11, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120524094913/http://domino.un.org/unispal.nsf/0/7f0af2bd897689b785256c330061d253 |archive-date=May 24, 2012 |df=mdy }} The vote itself, which required a two-thirds majority, was a dramatic affair. It led to celebrations in the streets of Jewish cities but was rejected by the Arab Palestinians and the Arab League.

Within a few days, full scale Jewish–Arab fighting broke out in Palestine.Benny Morris, The Birth of the Palestinian Refugee Problem Revisited, p. 13 It also led to anti-Jewish violence in Arab countries,Tudor Parfitt, The Road to Redemption: the Jews of the Yemen, Brill, 1996, p.166 and to a Jewish exodus from Arab and Muslim countries. "On May 14, 1948, on the day in which the British Mandate over Palestine expired, the Jewish People's Council gathered at the Tel Aviv Museum, and approved" a "proclamation" which declared "the establishment of a Jewish state in Eretz Israel, to be known as the State of Israel",[http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Peace+Process/Guide+to+the+Peace+Process/Declaration+of+Establishment+of+State+of+Israel.htm Declaration of Establishment of State of Israel: 14 May 1948: Retrieved 4 May 2012] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321213130/http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Peace%20Process/Guide%20to%20the%20Peace%20Process/Declaration%20of%20Establishment%20of%20State%20of%20Israel.htm |date=March 21, 2012 }} Resolution 181 also laid the foundation for the creation of an Arab state, but its neighbor states and the Arab League, which rejected all attempts at the creation of a Jewish state, rejected the plan. In the introduction to the cablegram{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=S/745 |title=Links to documents |access-date=October 22, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107030419/http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=S%2F745 |archive-date=January 7, 2014 |df=mdy }} from the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States to the UN Secretary-General on 15 May 1948, the Arab League gave reasons for its "intervention": "On the occasion of the intervention of Arab States in Palestine to restore law and order and to prevent disturbances prevailing in Palestine from spreading into their territories and to check further bloodshed".

The same day, five Arab states invaded and rapidly occupied much of the Arab portion of the partition plan. This war changed the dynamic of the region, transforming a two-state plan into a war between Israel and the Arab world. During this war, resolution 194 reiterated the UN's claim on Jerusalem and resolved in paragraph 11 "that the refugees wishing to return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbors should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date". This resolution, accepted immediately by Israel, is the major legal foundation of the Palestinian right of return claim, a major point in peace negotiations. Resolution 194 also called for the creation of the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine. The Arab states initially opposed this resolution, but within a few months, began to change their position, and became the strongest advocates of its refugee and territorial provisions.{{cite book | author=Khouri, Fred | title=The Arab-Israeli Dilemma | publisher=Syracuse University Press | year=1985 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/arabisraelidilem0000khou/page/129 129–130] | isbn=0-8156-2340-2 | url=https://archive.org/details/arabisraelidilem0000khou/page/129 | edition=3rd }}

In the aftermath of the 1948 war, and conditional on Israel's acceptance and implementation of resolutions 181 and 194, the UN General Assembly voted, with the May 11, 1949 Resolution 273 (III), to admit Israel to UN membership as a "peace-loving country". This resolution reiterated the demands for UN control over Jerusalem and for the return of Palestinian refugees. The vote for resolution 273 was held during the five-month-long Lausanne conference, organized by the UN to reconcile the parties. This conference was largely a failure but was noteworthy as the first proposal by Israel to establish the 1949 armistice line between the Israeli and Arab armies, the so-called green line, as the border of the Jewish state. This line has acquired an after-the-fact international sanction.{{cite web| last = Twersky| first = David| author-link = David Twersky (journalist)| title = The Assault on Israel's 1967 Border| publisher = New York Sun| date = 2006-07-14| url = http://www.nysun.com/foreign/assault-on-israels-1967-border/36031/| access-date = 2008-07-08}}{{cite news| last = Newman| first = David| title = A Green Line in the Sand|work=New York Times| date = 2007-01-09| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/09/opinion/09newman.html| access-date = 2008-07-08}}{{cite web|last=anonymous |title=Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory |publisher=International court of Justice |date=2004-07-09 |url=http://domino.un.org/UNISPAl.NSF/85255e950050831085255e95004fa9c3/3740e39487a5428a85256ecc005e157a!OpenDocument |access-date=2008-07-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080401141753/http://domino.un.org/UNISPAl.NSF/85255e950050831085255e95004fa9c3/3740e39487a5428a85256ecc005e157a%21OpenDocument |archive-date=April 1, 2008 |url-status=dead }}

Following the failure at Lausanne to settle the problem of the Arab refugees, UNRWA was created with December 1949 resolution 302 (IV) to provide humanitarian aid to this group. The Conciliation Commission for Palestine published its report in October 1950.General progress report and supplementary report of the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine, Covering the period from December 11, 1949, to October 23, 1950, GA A/1367/Rev.1 23 October 1950 It is noteworthy as the source of the official number of Palestinian Arab refugees (711,000). It again reiterated the demands for UN control over Jerusalem and for the return of Palestinian refugees.

{{See also|Suez Crisis|Suez Crisis#Cease fire}}

After the failure of early attempts at resolution, and until 1967, discussion of Israel and Palestine was not as prominent at the UN. Exceptions included border incidents like the Qibya massacre, the passage of Security Council Resolution 95 supporting Israel's position over Egypt's on usage of the Suez Canal, and most prominently the 1956 Suez Crisis.

{{See also|Six-Day War|United Nations Security Council Resolution 242|War of Attrition}}

After months of debate in the Security Council and General Assembly before, during and after the 1967 Six-Day War,{{cite book |author=Lall, Arthur S. |title=The UN and the Middle East Crisis, 1967 |publisher=Columbia University Press |year=1970 |isbn=0-231-08635-0}} United Nations Security Council Resolution 242 was adopted. It became a universally accepted basis for Arab-Israeli and later, Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations. In it, the Land for peace principle was spelled out. This resolution is one of the most discussed, both within and outside of the UN.{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}}

The Six-Day War generated a new wave of Palestinian refugees who could not be included in the original UNRWA definition. From 1991, the UN General Assembly has adopted an annual resolution allowing the 1967 refugees within the UNRWA mandate.

In 1968, the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People was created to investigate Jewish settlements on Palestinian territories. It generates yearly General Assembly resolutions and other documents.

{{See also|Munich massacre|Yom Kippur War|United Nations Security Council Resolution 338|United Nations Security Council Resolution 339|Entebbe raid|Camp David Accords|1978 South Lebanon conflict|United Nations Security Council Resolution 425}}

The Israeli–Palestinian conflict gained prominence following the emergence of Palestinian armed groups, especially the Palestine Liberation Organization and the increased political strength of the Arab group as the main suppliers of petroleum to the Western world. At the UN, the Arab group also gained the support of the Eastern Bloc against Israel allied to the US.

In rapid succession, several events brought the Palestinian struggle to the forefront: the 1972 Olympic Munich massacre, the 1973 Yom Kippur War, the ensuing 1973 oil crisis and, in 1975, the beginning of the Lebanese Civil War.

The Geneva Conference of 1973 was an attempt to negotiate a solution to the Arab–Israeli conflict. No comprehensive agreement was reached, and attempts in later years to revive the Conference failed.

On November 13, 1974, Yasser Arafat became the first representative of an entity other than a member state to address the General Assembly. In 1975, the PLO was granted permanent observer status at the General Assembly.

Starting in 1974, Palestinian territories{{vague|date=September 2018}} were named "Occupied Arab Territories" in UN documents. In 1982, the phrase "Occupied Palestinian Territories" became the usual name.{{Citation needed|date=September 2018}} This phrase was not used at the UN before 1967 when the same territories were under military occupation by Jordan and Egypt.{{Citation needed|date=September 2018}}

The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People was created in 1975 and of the United Nations Division for Palestinian Rights in 1977. Also in 1977, the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was first celebrated on November 29 the anniversary of resolution 181.

The 1979 Egypt–Israel peace treatyTreaty of Peace between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the State of Israel, March 26, 1979, www.mfa.gov.eg was a landmark event. Egyptian president Anwar Sadat is credited for initiating the process, following the failure of the UN-mediated peace negotiations, notably the Geneva Conference. The secret negotiations at Camp David in 1978 between Sadat, Menachem Begin and Jimmy Carter, and the treaty itself essentially bypassed UN-approved channels. The Camp David Accords (but not the Treaty itself) touch on the issue of Palestinian statehood. Egypt, Israel, and Jordan were to agree on a way to establish elected self-governing authority in the West Bank and Gaza. Egypt and Israel were to find means to resolve the refugee problem.{{cite web|url=https://www.jimmycarterlibrary.org/|title=ネットのくすり屋さん 海外医薬品の個人輸入|website=www.jimmycarterlibrary.org}}

The General Assembly was critical of the accords. General Assembly Resolution 34/65 (1979) condemned "partial agreements and separate treaties". It said that the Camp David accords had "no validity insofar as they purport to determine the future of the Palestinian people and the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel since 1967". In protest, the General Assembly did not renew the peace-keeping force in the Sinai peninsula, the UNEF II,{{cite web|url=http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/dpko/co_mission/unefii.htm|title=SECOND UNITED NATIONS EMERGENCY FORCE (UNEF II)|date=October 12, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012031912/http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/dpko/co_mission/unefii.htm|archive-date=October 12, 2007}} despite requests by the US, Egypt, and Israel, as stipulated in the treaty. To honor the treaty despite the UN's refusal, the Multinational Force and Observers was created, which has always operated independently of the UN. Egypt was expelled from the Arab League for ten years.

File:Un1981-343.jpg (1981)]]

{{See also|1982 Lebanon War|United Nations Security Council Resolution 425|South Lebanon conflict (1985–2000)|United Nations Security Council Resolution 476|United Nations Security Council Resolution 478}}

The Palestinian National Council adopted in Algiers in 1988 the declaration of independence of the State of Palestine. The UN has not officially recognised this state but, by renaming the PLO observer as the Palestine observer,{{cite web|url=http://domino.un.org/unispal.nsf/0/146e6838d505833f852560d600471e25?OpenDocument |title=A/RES/43/177 of 15 December 1988 |access-date=2010-08-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622050755/http://domino.un.org/unispal.nsf/0/146e6838d505833f852560d600471e25?OpenDocument |archive-date=June 22, 2011 |df=mdy }} can be seen as having done so unofficially. In July 1998, the General Assembly adopted resolution 52/250 conferring upon Palestine additional rights and privileges, including the right to participate in the general debate held at the start of each session of the General Assembly, the right of reply, the right to co-sponsor resolutions and the right to raise points of order on Palestinian and Middle East issues.

{{See also|First Intifada|United Nations Security Council Resolution 672|United Nations Security Council Resolution 673|Gulf War|United Nations Security Council Resolution 678|Oslo I Accord}}

{{See also|2000 Camp David Summit|Second Intifada|West Bank barrier|Israeli disengagement from the Gaza Strip|2006 Gaza cross-border raid|2006 Lebanon War|United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701|Gaza War (2008–2009)|}}

The year 2000 saw the failure of the Camp David peace negotiations and the beginning of the Second Intifada. In 2003, the Israeli West Bank barrier became another subject of criticism. It was declared illegal by both the General Assembly{{cite web|url=http://www.un.int/palestine/docs/res_es10_13.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2010-08-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090711152839/http://www.un.int/palestine//docs/res_es10_13.pdf |archive-date=July 11, 2009 |df=mdy }} and the International Court of Justice. The Court found that the portions of the wall beyond the Green Line and the associated regime that had been imposed on the Palestinian inhabitants are illegal. The Court cited illegal interference by the government of Israel with the Palestinian's national right to self-determination; and land confiscations, house demolitions, the creation of enclaves, and restrictions on movement and access to water, food, education, health care, work, and an adequate standard of living in violation of Israel's obligations under international law.International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion, "Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory", paragraphs 120–137 and 163 {{cite web |url=http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/131/1671.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2010-07-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100706021237/http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/131/1671.pdf |archive-date=July 6, 2010 |df=mdy-all }} The UN Fact-Finding Mission and several UN Rapporteurs subsequently noted that in the movement and access policy there has been a violation of the right not to be discriminated against based on race or national origin.See the report of the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Gaza, A/HRC/12/48, 25 September 2009, paragraph 1548

A series of terrorist attacks in March 2002 prompted Israel to conduct Operation Defensive Shield. The fiercest episode was the Battle of Jenin in the UNRWA administered refugee camp of Jenin, where 75 died (23 IDF soldiers, 38 armed and 14 unarmed Palestinians) and 10% of the camp's buildings destroyed. The UN sends a first visiting mission. A separate fact-finding mission was mandated by the Security Council but blocked by Israel, a move condemned in General Assembly resolution 10/10 (May 2002).{{cite web|url=https://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/72DA83FF10657C9985256BC2005B8D23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110103101200/http://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/72DA83FF10657C9985256BC2005B8D23|url-status=dead|title=A/RES/ES-10/10 of 7 May 2002|archive-date=January 3, 2011|website=unispal.un.org}} This mission was replaced by a report{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/peace/jenin/ |title=Report of the Secretary-General on Jenin |access-date=2009-09-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090911143157/http://www.un.org/peace/jenin/ |archive-date=September 11, 2009 |df=mdy }} which was widely commented in the media. Many observers noted that the UN dropped the accusations of the massacre made by Palestinians during and soon after the battle, and reproduced in annex 1 of the report.

The Road map for peace is, since 2002, the latest and current effort by the UN to negotiate peace in the region. This document{{cite web|author=ODS Team |url=http://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N03/348/79/IMG/N0334879.pdf?OpenElement |title=Ods Home Page |website=Documents-dds-ny.un.org |access-date=2016-10-22}} was initially proposed by US president George W. Bush and sponsored by a quartet of the US, Russia, the European Union and the UN. The official text is in the form of a letter to the Security Council, not a General Assembly or Security Council resolution. It generated a series of changes: the sidelining of Yasser Arafat and the unilateral withdrawal of Jewish settlers and the Israeli forces from occupied territories, notably the Gaza strip. Progress is now stalled.

On December 11, 2007, the General Assembly adopted a resolution on agricultural technology for development{{Cite web|url=http://daccess-ods.un.org/access.nsf/Get?OpenAgent&DS=A/C.2/62/L.23/Rev.2&Lang=E|title=A/C.2/62/L.23/Rev.2}} sponsored by Israel.Patrick Worsnip, Israel gets rare UN approval for farm resolution, Reuters, Tue December 11, 2007, [http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnN11501976.html africa.reuters.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215080501/http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnN11501976.html |date=February 15, 2008 }} The Arab group proposed a series of amendments referring to the Palestinian occupied territories, but these amendments were rejected. The Tunisian representative said: "The Arab Group was convinced that Israel was neither interested in agriculture nor the peace process." Second Committee approves text calling on member states to step up promotion of agricultural technology for development, draft A/C.2/62/L.23/Rev.2, [https://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/gaef3207.doc.htm www.un.org] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102061159/http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/gaef3207.doc.htm |date=November 2, 2012 }} This group demanded a vote on the resolution, an unusual demand for this kind of country-neutral resolution. "The representative of the United States (...) expressed disappointment with the request for a recorded vote because that could send a signal that there was no consensus on the issues at stake, which was not the case. The United States was saddened by the inappropriate injection into the agenda item of irrelevant political considerations, characterized by inflammatory remarks that devalued the importance of the United Nations agenda".idem The resolution was approved by a recorded vote of 118 in favor of none against, with 29 abstentions. The abstentions were mainly from the Arab Group, with the notable exception of Pakistan which voted in favor.Record of the vote, [http://daccess-ods.un.org/access.nsf/Get?OpenAgent&DS=A/C.2/62/L.23/Rev.2&Lang=E un.org] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031151530/https://daccess-ods.un.org/access.nsf/Get?OpenAgent&DS=A%2FC.2%2F62%2FL.23%2FRev.2&Lang=E |date=October 31, 2022 }}

{{See also|Palestine 194|United Nations General Assembly resolution 67/19|2012 Gaza War|2014 Gaza War}}

In February 2011, the United States vetoed a draft resolution to condemn all Jewish settlements established in the occupied Palestinian territory since 1967 as illegal.{{Cite news|author1=Charbonneau, Louis |author2=Dunham, Will |title=U.S. vetoes U.N. draft condemning Israeli settlements|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-palestinians-israel-un-vote-idUSTRE71H6W720110218|date=February 18, 2011|work=Reuters|publisher=Thomson Reuters|access-date=2011-02-20}} The resolution, which was supported by all other Security Council members and co-sponsored by over 120 nations,{{Cite news|author=Haaretz Service|title=Palestinian envoy: U.S. veto at UN 'encourages Israeli intransigence' on settlements|url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/palestinian-envoy-u-s-veto-at-un-encourages-israeli-intransigence-on-settlements-1.344364|date=February 18, 2011|newspaper=Haaretz.com|publisher=Haaretz Daily Newspaper Ltd|access-date=2011-02-20}} would have demanded that "Israel, as the occupying power, immediately and completely ceases all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem and that it fully respect its legal obligations in this regard."{{Cite news|author=Staff writers|title=United States vetoes Security Council resolution on Israeli settlements|url=https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=37572&Cr=palestin&Cr1=|date=February 18, 2011|newspaper=UN News Centre|publisher=United Nations|access-date=2011-02-20}} The U.S. representative said that while it agreed that the settlements were illegal, the resolution would harm chances for negotiations. Israel's deputy Foreign Minister, Daniel Ayalon, said that the "UN serves as a rubber stamp for the Arab countries and, as such, the General Assembly has an automatic majority," and that the vote "proved that the United States is the only country capable of advancing the peace process and the only righteous one speaking the truth: that direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians are required."{{Cite news|author=Haaretz Service|title=Deputy FM: Anti-settlement vote proves UN is a 'rubber stamp' for Arab nations|url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/deputy-fm-anti-settlement-vote-proves-un-is-a-rubber-stamp-for-arab-nations-1.344546|date=February 20, 2011|newspaper=Haaretz.com|publisher=Haaretz Daily Newspaper Ltd|access-date=2011-02-20}} Palestinian negotiators, however, have refused to resume direct talks until Israel ceases all settlement activity.

On January 31, 2012, the United Nations independent "International Fact-Finding Mission on Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory" filed a report stating that Israeli settlements led to a multitude of violations of Palestinian human rights and that if Israel did not stop all settlement activity immediately and begin withdrawing all settlers from the West Bank, it potentially might face a case at the International Criminal Court. It said that Israel violated article 49 of the fourth Geneva convention forbidding transferring civilians of the occupying nation into occupied territory. It held that the settlements are "leading to a creeping annexation that prevents the establishment of a contiguous and viable Palestinian state and undermines the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination." After Palestine's admission to the United Nations as a non-member state in September 2012, it potentially may have its complaint heard by the International Court. Israel refused to co-operate with UNHRC investigators and its foreign ministry replied to the report saying that "Counterproductive measures – such as the report before us – will only hamper efforts to find a sustainable solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict. The human rights council has sadly distinguished itself by its systematically one-sided and biased approach towards Israel."Harriet Sherwood, [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jan/31/israel-must-withdraw-settlers-icc Israel must withdraw all settlers or face ICC, says UN report] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801213035/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jan/31/israel-must-withdraw-settlers-icc |date=August 1, 2020 }}, The Guardian, January 31, 2013.[https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=44045&Cr=palestin&Cr1=#.UQtfEWc1CSo Independent UN inquiry urges halt to Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303023859/http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=44045&Cr=palestin&Cr1=#.UQtfEWc1CSo |date=March 3, 2017 }}, United Nations News Center, January 31, 2012.Human Rights Council Twenty-second session, Agenda item 7, Human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories, [http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/HRCouncil/RegularSession/Session19/FFM/FFMSettlements.pdf Report of the independent international fact-finding mission to investigate the implications of the Israeli settlements on the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of the Palestinian people throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190610230053/https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/HRCouncil/RegularSession/Session19/FFM/FFMSettlements.pdf |date=June 10, 2019 }}(Advanced Unedited Version), accessed February 1, 2013.

{{further|International recognition of Palestine|Palestine Liberation Organization|Palestine}}

By September 2012, with their application for full membership stalled due to the inability of Security Council members to 'make a unanimous recommendation', the Palestine Authority had decided to pursue an upgrade in status from "observer entity" to "non-member observer state". On November 27 it was announced that the appeal had been officially made, and would be put to a vote in the General Assembly on 29 November, where their status upgrade was expected to be supported by a majority of states. In addition to granting Palestine "non-member observer state status", the draft resolution "expresses the hope that the Security Council will consider favorably the application submitted on 23 September 2011 by the State of Palestine for admission to full membership in the United Nations, endorses the two-state solution based on the pre-1967 borders, and stresses the need for an immediate resumption of negotiations between the two parties."

On Thursday, 29 November 2012, In a 138–9 vote (with 41 abstaining) General Assembly resolution 67/19 adopted, upgrading Palestine to "non-member observer state" status in the United Nations.{{cite web|url=https://unispal.un.org/unispal.nsf/0080ef30efce525585256c38006eacae/181c72112f4d0e0685257ac500515c6c?OpenDocument |title=A/67/L.28 of 26 November 2012 and A/RES/67/19 of 29 November 2012 |publisher=Unispal.un.org |access-date=2012-12-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121210160010/http://unispal.un.org/unispal.nsf/0080ef30efce525585256c38006eacae/181c72112f4d0e0685257ac500515c6c?OpenDocument |archive-date=December 10, 2012 }}{{cite web |author=Inside Story |url=http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/insidestory/2013/01/2013186722389860.html |title=Palestine: What is in a name (change)? |publisher=Al Jazeera English |date=2013-01-08 |access-date=2016-10-22 |archive-date=March 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321061622/http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/insidestory/2013/01/2013186722389860.html |url-status=dead }} The new status equates Palestine's with that of the Holy See. The change in status was described by The Independent as "de facto recognition of the sovereign state of Palestine".{{cite news |title=Israel defies UN after vote on Palestine with plans for 3,000 new homes in the West Bank|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israel-defies-un-after-vote-on-palestine-with-plans-for-3000-new-homes-in-the-west-bank-8372494.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israel-defies-un-after-vote-on-palestine-with-plans-for-3000-new-homes-in-the-west-bank-8372494.html |archive-date=May 24, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=The Independent|date=1 December 2012}}

The vote was an important move for the State of Palestine, whilst it was a diplomatic setback for Israel and the United States. Status as an observer state in the UN will allow the State of Palestine to join treaties and specialized UN agencies, such as the International Civil Aviation Organisation,[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/07/state-of-palestine_n_2425682.html Abbas has not taken practical steps toward seeking membership for Palestine in UN agencies, something made possible by the November vote] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011202654/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/07/state-of-palestine_n_2425682.html |date=October 11, 2014 }} the Law of the Seas Treaty and the International Criminal Court. It shall permit Palestine to claim legal rights over its territorial waters and air space as a sovereign state recognized by the UN. It shall also provide Palestine with the right to sue for control of disputed territory in the International Court of Justice and bring war-crimes charges, mainly those relating to Israel's occupation of the State of Palestine, against Israel in the International Criminal Court.{{cite news |title=Palestinians' UN upgrade to nonmember observer state: Struggles ahead over possible powers |url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/palestinians-un-upgrade-to-nonmember-observer-state-struggles-ahead-over-possible-powers/|publisher=Fox News|date=30 November 2012|access-date=1 December 2013}}

The UN has permitted Palestine to title its representative office to the UN as 'The Permanent Observer Mission of the State of Palestine to the United Nations',{{cite web|url=http://www.un.int/wcm/content/site/palestine/ |title=Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations - Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations |access-date=2015-01-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130131073609/http://www.un.int/wcm/content/site/palestine/ |archive-date=January 31, 2013 |df=mdy }} and Palestine has started to re-title its name accordingly on postal stamps, official documents and passports,{{cite web|last=Lisyesterday |first=Jonathan |url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/palestinian-authority-officially-changes-name-to-state-of-palestine.premium-1.492065 |title=Palestinian Authority officially changes name to 'State of Palestine' |publisher=Haaretz |date=2013-01-05 |access-date=2016-10-22}} whilst it has instructed its diplomats to officially represent 'The State of Palestine', as opposed to the 'Palestine National Authority'. Additionally, on 17 December 2012, UN Chief of Protocol Yeocheol Yoon decided that "the designation of 'State of Palestine' shall be used by the Secretariat in all official United Nations documents", thus recognising the PLO-proclaimed State of Palestine as being sovereign over the territories of Palestine and its citizens under international law.

{{numrec|Pal|asof=S}} ({{Numrec|Pal|link=N|pcent=UN}}) of the {{UNnum}} member states of the United Nations have recognised the State of Palestine as sovereign over both West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Many of the countries that do not recognize the State of Palestine nevertheless recognize the PLO as the 'representative of the Palestinian people'.{{cite web|url=https://www.indy100.com/article/palestinians-recognised-which-countries-palestinian-state-statehood-recognition-balfour-declaration-8033876|title=Which countries recognise Palestine?|last=Vesey-Byrne|first=Joe|date=2 November 2017|website=indy100|access-date=27 January 2020}}

The effort to secure full UN membership was renewed in 2024 during the Gaza war,{{Cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/palestinians-will-seek-full-un-membership-again-but-u-s-is-almost-certain-to-block-the-request |title=Palestinians will seek full UN membership again, but U.S. is almost certain to block the request |work=PBS NewsHour |publisher=PBS |date=2024-04-03 |accessdate=2024-04-05 |first=Edith M. |last=Lederer |language=en-US |agency=Associated Press}} with the United Nations Security Council holding a vote on the topic in April.{{Cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2024/04/18/1245641286/what-to-know-about-the-u-n-vote-on-whether-to-admit-palestinians-as-full-members |title=What to know about the U.N. vote on whether to admit Palestinians as full members |department=Middle East |first1=Becky |last1=Sullivan |first2=Michele |last2=Keleman |publisher=NPR |date=18 April 2024 |accessdate=19 April 2024 |language=en-US}} The vote was 12 in favor, with two abstentions, and one against – the United States, which vetoed the measure for two primary reasons. The U.S. argued that Palestinian statehood should be achieved through direct negotiations with Israel rather than unilateral actions, and emphasized the need for significant reforms within the Palestinian Authority, citing long-standing issues of corruption and mismanagement.{{cite news |title=US vetoes Security Council resolution recognizing Palestinians as full UN member state |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-vetoes-security-council-resolution-granting-palestinians-full-member-status-at-un/}}{{Cite web |url=https://apnews.com/article/un-vote-palestinian-membership-us-veto-8d8ad60d8576b5ab9e70d2f8bf7e2881 |first=Edith M. |last=Lederer |title=US vetoes widely supported resolution backing full UN membership for Palestine |department=World News |language=en-US |publisher=Associated Press |date=19 April 2024 |accessdate=19 April 2024}}{{undue weight inline|date=June 2024}}

On 10 May 2024, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution that recognized that Palestine met the requirements for UN membership, and requested that the Security Council reconsider admitting the state. It also granted Palestine additional rights at the UN, including being seated with member states, the right to introduce proposals and agenda items, and participate in committees, but did not grant them the right to vote.{{cite web|url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/05/1149596|title=UN General Assembly presses Security Council to give 'favourable consideration' to full Palestinian membership|date=2024-05-10|accessdate=2024-05-12|publisher=United Nations}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2024/may/10/israel-gaza-war-live-rafah-offensive-hamas-unga-new-palestinian-vote|title=Israel-Gaza war live: UN passed resolution for security council to reconsider and support Palestine membership|last1=Oladipo|first1=Gloria|last2=Ambrose|first2=Tom|last3=Clinton|first3=Jane|date=May 10, 2024|work=The Guardian|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240510155702/https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2024/may/10/israel-gaza-war-live-rafah-offensive-hamas-unga-new-palestinian-vote|archive-date=May 10, 2024|url-status=live|access-date=May 10, 2024}} The vote was 143 countries in favour, nine against and 25 abstaining. The upgrades went into effect at the subsequent session of the UN General Assembly on 10 September 2024.{{Cite web |url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/05/1149596 |title=UPDATING LIVE: UN General Assembly presses Security Council to give 'favourable consideration' to full Palestinian membership |publisher=UN News |date=2024-05-10 |accessdate=2024-05-10 |language=en-UK}}

United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334 of 2016 "Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Council every three months on the implementation of the provisions of the present resolution;"{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/webcast/pdfs/SRES2334-2016.pdf/|title=Resolution 2334 (2016) Adopted by the Security Council at its 7853rd meeting, on 23 December 2016|date=2016-12-16|website=UN|access-date=2019-09-20}}{{cite book|author=Noura Erakat|title=Justice for Some: Law and the Question of Palestine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2yozugEACAAJ|year=2019|publisher=Stanford University Press|page=252|isbn=978-0-8047-9825-9}}

In the first of these reports, delivered verbally at a security council meeting on 24 March 2017, United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, noted that Resolution 2334 called on Israel to take steps to cease all settlement activity in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, that "no such steps have been taken during the reporting period" and that instead, there had been a marked increase in statements, announcements and decisions related to construction and expansion.{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/press/en/2017/sc12765.doc.htm/|title=Israel Markedly Increased Settlement Construction, Decisions in Last Three Months, Middle East Special Coordinator Tells Security Council|date=2017-03-24|website=UN|access-date=2019-09-20}}{{cite web|url=https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/atf/cf/%7B65BFCF9B-6D27-4E9C-8CD3-CF6E4FF96FF9%7D/s_pv_7908.pdf|title=Security Council Seventy-second year 7908th meeting Friday, 24 March 2017, 3 p.m. New York|date=2017-03-24|website=UN|access-date=2019-09-20}}{{cite book|author=Seada Hussein Adem|title=Palestine and the International Criminal Court|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1m2QDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA144|year=2019|publisher=Springer|page=144|isbn=978-94-6265-291-0}}

+ - Document links will work once the document has been published in the Official Document System. Details can meanwhile be found at the United Nations website.{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/en/ga/75/resolutions.shtml|title=General Assembly of the United Nations|website=www.un.org}}

++ & +++ - 2019 & 2018 data. * - Passed by consensus. Voting records can be examined at the United Nations website.{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/en/ga/documents/voting.asp|title=General Assembly of the United Nations|website=www.un.org}}

Middle East issues were the subject of six of the General Assembly's ten 'emergency special sessions'. The tenth emergency special session has, so far, spanned over 20 years and has become another semi-permanent committee on the question of Palestine.

The United Nations Regional Groups were created in 1961. From the onset, the majority of Arab countries within the Asia group blocked the entry of Israel in that group. Thus, for 39 years, Israel was one of the few countries without membership to a regional group and could not participate in most UN activities. On the other hand, Palestine was admitted as a full member of the Asia group on April 2, 1986.{{refn|For the purposes of United Nations Regional Groups arrangement, the Palestine Liberation Organization participates in the Asia group since April 2, 1986.{{cite web|author=Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations |title=Status of Palestine at the United Nations |url=http://www.un.int/wcm/content/site/palestine/cache/offonce/pid/11550;jsessionid=DB37131DB27A165B6398469FFE4DB1FC |publisher=United Nations |access-date=2010-12-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606092743/http://www.un.int/wcm/content/site/palestine/cache/offonce/pid/11550%3Bjsessionid%3DDB37131DB27A165B6398469FFE4DB1FC |archive-date=June 6, 2011 }}: "On 2 April 1986, the Asian Group of the U.N. decided to accept the PLO as a full member."{{cite web|author=United Nations Conference on Trade and Development |title=Government structures |url=http://www.unctad.org/templates/Page.asp?intItemID=4966&lang=1 |publisher=United Nations |year=2002 |access-date=2010-12-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613180649/http://unctad.org/Templates/Page.asp?intItemID=4966&lang=1 |archive-date=June 13, 2010 }}: "At present, the PLO is a full member of the Asian Group of the United Nations".United Nations General Assembly [http://www.undemocracy.com/A-RES-52-250.pdf Resolution 52/250: Participation of Palestine in the work of the United Nations] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522214702/http://www.undemocracy.com/A-RES-52-250.pdf |date=May 22, 2011 }} (1998): "Palestine enjoys full membership in the Group of Asian States".Palestine/PLO (being a GA observer only) is not included in the list of [http://www.un.int/wcm/webdav/site/gmun/shared/documents/GA_regionalgrps_Web.pdf "Members of the General Assembly, arranged in current regional groups"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606092759/http://www.un.int/wcm/webdav/site/gmun/shared/documents/GA_regionalgrps_Web.pdf |date=June $e, 2011 }}. Further, a recent document of UN-HABITAT, which classifies countries by explicit lists according to the "United Nations Regional Groups" (see: [http://www.unhabitat.org/downloads/docs/GRHS.2007.7.pdf "UN-HABITAT's Global Report on Human Settlements"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515020458/http://www.unhabitat.org/downloads/docs/GRHS.2007.7.pdf |date=May $e, 2011 }} (2007), pp. 329–330), along with a more recent document of UN-AIDS – which classifies countries by explicit lists according to the "Regional Groups that are used by the UN General Assembly, ECOSOC, and its subsidiary bodies" (see: [http://data.unaids.org/pub/Manual/2009/jc1682_governancehandbook_lr_en.pdf UNAIDS, The Governance Handbook] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110109143548/http://data.unaids.org/pub/Manual/2009/jc1682_governancehandbook_lr_en.pdf |date=January 9, 2011 }} (2010), pp. 28–29), do not include Palestine/PLO in any Regional Group, but instead write: "the General Assembly conferred upon Palestine, in its capacity as observer, additional rights and privileges of participation. These included the right to participation in the general debate of the General Assembly, but did not include the rights to vote or put forward candidates" (see: UN-HABITAT's Global Report on Human Settlements, p. 335, 2nd footnote; UNAIDS, The Governance Handbook, p. 29, 4th footnote).|group="note"|name="unrg"}}

The difficulty within the UN to find a unanimous definition of the word terrorism stems in part from the inability to reach consensus over whether Palestinian political violence is a form of resistance or terrorism. The OIC countries argue that Palestinians are fighting the foreign occupation.Annex to Resolution No. 59/26-P, Convention of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference on combating international terrorism, from the [http://www.oic-un.org/26icfm/c.html oic-un.org] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080127132341/http://www.oic-un.org/26icfm/c.html |date=January 27, 2008 }}, which states: "Article 2, a. Peoples' struggle including armed struggle against foreign occupation, aggression, colonialism, and hegemony, aimed at liberation and self-determination per the principles of international law shall not be considered a terrorist crime." From the UNODC web site,{{cite web|url=http://www.unodc.org/unodc/terrorism_definitions.html|title=UNODC - Terrorism Definitions|date=January 29, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070129121539/http://www.unodc.org/unodc/terrorism_definitions.html|archive-date=January 29, 2007}}

The question of a definition of terrorism has haunted the debate among states for decades. (...) The UN Member States still has no agreed-upon definition. (...) The lack of agreement on a definition of terrorism has been a major obstacle to meaningful international countermeasures. Cynics have often commented that one state's "terrorist" is another state's "freedom fighter".

Acts of Palestinian political violence have been repeatedly condemned in press releases from the Secretary-General (e.g., Secretary-General condemns "despicable" Hebron terrorist attack, Press Release SG/SM/8498, November 15, 2002,Secretary-General dismayed by Beit She'An attack, condemns such terrorist acts as extremely harmful to Palestinian cause, Press Release SG/SM/8533 PAL/1928, 29/11//2002). The text of General Assembly resolutions does not distinguish terrorism from military operations. For example, in resolution 61/25 (2006) titled "Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine",

condemning all acts of violence and terror against civilians on both sides, including the suicide bombings, the extrajudicial executions and the excessive use of force

Several resolutions recognize the right of Palestinians to fight the Israeli occupation "by all available means". For example, the 2002 UNCHR resolution E/CN.4/2002/L.16 states:

Recalling particularly General Assembly resolution 37/43 of 3 December 1982 reaffirming the legitimacy of the struggle of peoples against foreign occupation by all available means, including armed struggle, (...) 1. Affirms the legitimate right of the Palestinian people to resist the Israeli occupation by all available means to free its land and be able to exercise its right of self-determination and that, by so doing, the Palestinian people is fulfilling its mission, one of the goals and purposes of the United Nations;Question of the violation of human rights in the Occupied Arab Territories, including PalestineUNCHR, 58th session, E/CN.4/2002/L.16, 9 April 2002 [http://www.unhchr.ch/Huridocda/Huridoca.nsf/(Symbol)/E.CN.4.2002.L.16.En?Opendocument www.unhchr.ch] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520111754/http://www.unhchr.ch/Huridocda/Huridoca.nsf/(Symbol)/E.CN.4.2002.L.16.En?Opendocument |date=May 20, 2022 }}

Western countries who voted against this 2002 resolution claimed its language condones Palestinian terrorism:

Ms. Gervais-Virdicaire (Canada)(...) 3. The failure of the draft resolution to condemn all acts of terrorism, particularly in the context of recent suicide bombings targeting civilians, was a serious oversight that rendered it fundamentally unacceptable; there could be no justification for terrorist acts. (...) Ms. Glover (United Kingdom) (...) 16. Although her delegation agreed with many of the concerns expressed in the draft resolution, the text contained language which might be interpreted as endorsing violence and condoning terrorism.Commission on Human Rights, Fifty-eighth session, Summary Record of the 39th meeting, Geneva, 15 April 2002, [http://www.unhchr.ch/Huridocda/Huridoca.nsf/0/cf0fb580282f67a9c1256ba700473ea7/$FILE/G0212756.pdf www.unhchr.ch] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116101606/http://www.unhchr.ch/Huridocda/Huridoca.nsf/0/cf0fb580282f67a9c1256ba700473ea7/$FILE/G0212756.pdf |date=January 16, 2013 }}

Refugees are aided by two agencies at the UN, the UNHCR and UNRWA. UNRWA assists Palestinian refugees exclusively. Refugees are defined differently by these two organizations, the main difference being the inclusion of descendants and the inclusion of the 50% of refugees within the Palestinian territories which, by UNHCR criteria, are internally displaced persons.

• In 2006,{{Cite web|url=https://www.unhcr.org/basics/BASICS/3b028097c.html|title=UNHCR - Page not found|first=United Nations High Commissioner for|last=Refugees|website=UNHCR}} the UNHCR assisted a total of 17.4 million "Persons of concern" around the world, including 350,000 Palestinians, with a budget of $1.45 billion or $83 per person. The UNHCR was staffed by 6,689.
• In 2006,{{Cite web |url=https://www.un.org/unrwa/publications/pubs07/UN%26PR_en.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=January 1, 2021 |archive-date=March 19, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090319133506/http://www.un.org/unrwa/publications/pubs07/UN%26PR_en.pdf |url-status=dead }} UNRWA assisted some 4.5 million Palestinian refugees with a regular budget of $639 million supplemented by $145 million for emergency programs, amounting to $174 per person. UNRWA was staffed by 28,000, most refugees themselves.

Andrew Whitley of UNRWA has called the hopes that Palestinian refugees might one day return to their homes "cruel illusions".[http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/jordan-slams-un-official-for-urging-palestinian-refugees-to-resettle-in-arab-states-1.321643?localLinksEnabled=false Jordan slams UN official for urging Palestinian refugees to resettle in Arab states] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512192133/http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/jordan-slams-un-official-for-urging-palestinian-refugees-to-resettle-in-arab-states-1.321643?localLinksEnabled=false |date=May 12, 2015 }} AP and Haaretz, October 28, 2010,

{{See also| United States and the United Nations}}

UN diplomats have indicated that the United States would veto any unilateral attempt to declare a Palestinian state at the Security Council.[http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/netanyahu-direct-talks-are-only-path-to-true-mideast-peace-1.321667 Netanyahu: Direct talks are the only path to true Mideast peace] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150514104625/http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/netanyahu-direct-talks-are-only-path-to-true-mideast-peace-1.321667 |date=May 14, 2015 }} Haaretz, October 28, 2010, The U.S. has vetoed over forty condemnatory Security Council resolutions against Israel;{{cite web|url=http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/membship/veto/vetosubj.htm |title=Subjects of UN Security Council Vetoes |last=Administrator |access-date=October 22, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080317010910/http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/membship/veto/vetosubj.htm |archive-date=March 17, 2008 }} almost all U.S. vetoes cast since 1988 blocked resolutions against Israel, on the basis of their lack of condemnation of Palestinian terrorist groups, actions, and incitement. This policy, known as the Negroponte doctrine, has drawn both praise and criticism.{{cite web|url=http://www.adl.org/PresRele/UnitedNations_94/4368_94.htm|title=You are being redirected...|access-date=October 22, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116101529/http://www.adl.org/PresRele/UnitedNations_94/4368_94.htm|archive-date=January 16, 2013|df=mdy-all}}{{cite web|url=http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/veto/2004/0326criticism.htm|title=US Veto on Yassin Draws Criticism|first=James Paul – Global Policy|last=Forum|access-date=October 22, 2016}}

Speaking to the UN Security Council in October 2019, US Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft called Hamas "a terrorist organization that oppresses the Palestinian people in Gaza through intimidation and outright violence, while inciting violence against Israel." She condemned as "despicable" Hamas's violence against its own people, its use of Palestinian children as pawns, and its indiscriminate attacks on Israeli civilian areas, and called it one of the greatest obstacles to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.{{cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/hamas-one-of-largest-obstacles-to-palestinian-peace-us-tells-unsc-606111|title=Hamas one of largest obstacles to Palestinian peace, U.S. tells UNSC; The US Ambassador to the UN, Kelly Craft, chastised the UN for its biased approach to Israel, noting, that it's stance was "unfairly negative and one-sided."|date=October 28, 2019|website=The Jerusalem Post}}

The Special Rapporteur on the question of Palestine to the previous UNCHR, the current UNHRC, and the General Assembly was, between 2001 and 2008, John Dugard. The mandate of the Rapporteur is to investigate human rights violations by Israel only, not by Palestinians."C. Palestinian human rights violations. 6. The mandate of the Special Rapporteur is concerned with violations of human rights and international humanitarian law that are a consequence of military occupation. Although military occupation is tolerated by international law it is not approved and must be brought to a speedy end. The mandate of the Special Rapporteur, therefore, requires him to report on human rights violations committed by the occupying Power and not by the occupied people. For this reason, this report, like previous reports, will not address the violation of the human rights of Israelis by Palestinians. Nor will it address the conflict between Fatah and Hamas, and the human rights violations that this conflict has engendered. Similarly, it will not consider the human rights record of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank or of Hamas in Gaza. The Special Rapporteur is aware of the ongoing violations of human rights committed by Palestinians upon Palestinians and by Palestinians upon Israelis. He is deeply concerned and condemns such violations. However, they find no place in this report because the mandate requires that the report be limited to the consequences of the military occupation of the OPT by Israel." From p. 6 of A/HRC/7/17: Human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories. Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, John Dugard, January 21, 2008. {{cite web|url=http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G08/402/29/PDF/G0840229.pdf?OpenElement |title=Ods Home Page |access-date=2011-03-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728144308/http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G08/402/29/PDF/G0840229.pdf?OpenElement |archive-date=July 28, 2011 |df=mdy }} Dugard was replaced in 2008 with Richard Falk, who has compared Israel's treatment of Palestinians with the Nazis' treatment of Jews during the Holocaust.{{cite web|url=http://www.forward.com/articles/13037/ |author=Marc Perelman|title= U.N. Taps American Jewish Critic of Israel as Rights Expert|quote=After describing the Nazi horrors, [Falk] asked: "Is it an irresponsible overstatement to associate the treatment of Palestinians with this criminalized Nazi record of collective atrocity? I think not. The recent developments in Gaza are especially disturbing because they express so vividly a deliberate intention on the part of Israel and its allies to subject an entire human community to life-endangering conditions of utmost cruelty |publisher=Forward Magazine|date= March 27, 2008|issue = April 4, 2008}}{{cite news| title= UN expert stands by Nazi comments|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7335875.stm|publisher=BBC|date=April 8, 2008 | first=Tim | last=Franks}}[http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?ItemID=13226 Slouching toward a Palestinian Holocaust] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080219013704/http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?ItemID=13226 |date=February 19, 2008 }} by Richard Falk Like his predecessor, Falk's mandate only covers Israel's human rights record."He submits periodic reports to the UNHRC on the human rights situation in the West Bank and Gaza, but his mandate only covers Israel's human rights record." Richard Falk under attack from the Palestinian authority. [http://www.middleeastmonitor.org.uk/articles/35-palestine/759-uns-richard-falk-under-attack-again-from-the-palestinian-authority By Omar Radwan, Middle East Monitor Wednesday, March 10, 2010.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110305180541/http://www.middleeastmonitor.org.uk/articles/35-palestine/759-uns-richard-falk-under-attack-again-from-the-palestinian-authority |date=March 5, 2011 }} Commenting on the end of Falk's mandate in May 2014, US delegate Samantha Power accused Falk of "relentless anti-Israeli bias" and "noxious and outrageous perpetuation of 9/11 conspiracy theories."{{cite news|url=http://www.jta.org/2014/03/26/news-opinion/united-states/samantha-power-to-richard-falk-dont-let-the-door-hit-you-on-the-way-out#ixzz2xjOBt0PK|title=Samantha Power chides outgoing U.N. human rights envoy Richard Falk|publisher= Jewish Telegraphic Agency|date= March 26, 2014 |time=5:37am}}

Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann, a former UNGA president, was elected to the UNHRC Advisory Committee in June 2010.Bayefsky, Anne. "The UN's war on Israel continues – and the U.S. is silent". Special to NYDailyNews.com, June 18, 2010.

In March 2012, UNHCR was criticized for facilitating an event featuring a Hamas politician. The Hamas parliamentarian had spoken at an NGO event in the UN Geneva building. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu castigated the UNHRC's decision stating: "He represents an organization that indiscriminately targets children and grown-ups, and women and men. Innocents – is their special favorite target." Israel's ambassador to the UN, Ron Prosor, denounced the speech, stating that Hamas was an internationally recognized terrorist organization that targeted civilians. "Inviting a Hamas terrorist to lecture to the world about human rights is like asking Charles Manson to run the murder investigation unit at the NYPD", he said.{{cite news|title=Netanyahu to UNHRC: You should ashamed|url=http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=262512|newspaper=The Jerusalem Post|date=2012-03-19|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320091305/http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=262512|archive-date=March 20, 2012|df=mdy-all}}

{{Main|United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict}}

File:Richard Goldstone.jpg

A fact-finding mission on human rights violations during the 2008 Gaza War between Israel and Hamas administration in Gaza was called by January 12, 2009, UNHRC, which limited the investigation to "violations (...) by the occupying Power, Israel, against the Palestinian people throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, particularly in the occupied Gaza Strip"{{cite web|title=The grave violations of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, particularly due to the recent Israeli military attacks against the occupied Gaza Strip|url=http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/specialsession/9/docs/A-HRC-S-91-L1.doc|date=February 19, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110219083233/http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/specialsession/9/docs/A-HRC-S-91-L1.doc|archive-date=February 19, 2011}} but, before any investigation, it already "Strongly condemns the ongoing Israeli military operation carried out in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, particularly in the occupied Gaza Strip, which has resulted in massive violations of the human rights of the Palestinian people".

Former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and Ireland President Mary Robinson refused to head the mission because she "felt strongly that the Council's resolution was one-sided and did not permit a balanced approach to determine the situation on the ground."[http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\story_30-9-2009_pg3_4 Accounting for Gaza] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112122855/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009 |date=January 12, 2012 }} by Mary Robinson, Daily Times, September 30, 2009. On 3 April 2009, Richard Goldstone was named head of the mission. In a 16 July interview, he said: "at first I was not prepared to accept the invitation to head the mission". "It was essential," he continued, to expand the mandate to include "the sustained rocket attack on civilians in southern Israel, as well as other facts." He set this expansion of the mandate as a condition for chairing the mission.[https://archive.today/20120709124445/http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1246443832996&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull Goldstone: Israel should cooperate] Jerusalem Post, Jul 16, 2009. The next day, he wrote in the New York Times "I accepted because the mandate of the mission was to look at all parties: Israel; Hamas, which controls Gaza; and other armed Palestinian groups."[https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/17/opinion/17goldstone.html Richard Goldstone] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116181904/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/17/opinion/17goldstone.html |date=November 16, 2018 }}, New York Times, Sep 17, 2009. The UNHRC press release announcing his nomination documents the changed focus of the mission.[http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/2796E2CA43CA4D94C125758D002F8D25?opendocument UNHRC press release] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520111159/http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/2796E2CA43CA4D94C125758D002F8D25?opendocument |date=May 20, 2022 }} April 3, 2009. Writing in The Spectator, commentator Melanie Phillips said that the resolution that created the mandate allowed no such change and questioned the validity and political motivations of the new mandate."It looks therefore as if he [Goldstone] and the UNHRC President unilaterally tore up both the Council's mandate and UN regulations". She said the mandate was changed to allow a negligible criticism of Hamas "to provide Goldstone with the fig-leaf to disguise the moral bankruptcy of the entire process". Phillips, Melanie. [http://www.spectator.co.uk/melaniephillips/5334541/the-moral-inversion-of-richard-goldstone.thtml "The Moral Inversion of Richard Goldstone"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090922170236/http://www.spectator.co.uk/melaniephillips/5334541/the-moral-inversion-of-richard-goldstone.thtml |date=September 22, 2009 }} The Spectator, September 16, 2009.

Israel thought that the change of the mandate did not have much practical effect.[http://www.mfa.gov.il/GazaFacts/Goldstone/israel-gaza-faq-goldstone-mission-3.htm Wasn't the mandate of the Mission changed to be more balanced?] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091012170658/http://www.mfa.gov.il/GazaFacts/Goldstone/israel-gaza-faq-goldstone-mission-3.htm |date=October 12, 2009 }} Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Access date October 11, 2009.

Israel refused to cooperate with the Goldstone Mission and denied its entry to Israel, while Hamas and Palestinian National Authority supported and assisted the Mission.{{cite web|url=http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/12session/A-HRC-12-48.pdf|title=Page 13 of the Human rights in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories. Report of the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict}}[https://unispal.un.org/unispal.nsf/eed216406b50bf6485256ce10072f637/3082212d3c30703e85257640004d962a?OpenDocument UNISPAL. Human Rights Council discussed the report of the fact-finding mission on the Gaza conflict. Retrieved 27 Oct.2009.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406100821/http://unispal.un.org/unispal.nsf/eed216406b50bf6485256ce10072f637/3082212d3c30703e85257640004d962a?OpenDocument |date=April 6, 2012 }}

In January, months before the mission, Professor Christine Chinkin, one of the four mission members, signed a letter to the London Sunday Times, asserting that Israel's actions "amount to aggression, not self-defense" and that "the manner and scale of its operations in Gaza amount to an act of aggression and is contrary to international law".[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/letters/article5488380.ece "Israel's bombardment of Gaza is not self-defense – it's a war crime"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090319105413/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/letters/article5488380.ece |date=March 19, 2009 }}, The Sunday Times, January 11, 2009. She authored the final report.

Israel concluded that "it seemed clear beyond any doubt that the initiative was motivated by a political agenda and not a concern for human rights" and therefore refused to cooperate with it – in contrast to its policy to cooperate fully with most of the international inquiries into events in the Gaza Operation.[http://www.mfa.gov.il/GazaFacts/Goldstone/israel-gaza-faq-goldstone-mission-1.htm Why hasn't Israel cooperated with international investigations into the Gaza Operation?] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091011121721/http://www.mfa.gov.il/GazaFacts/Goldstone/israel-gaza-faq-goldstone-mission-1.htm |date=October 11, 2009 }} Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Access date October 4, 2009.

The mission report was published on 15 September 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/specialsession/9/docs/UNFFMGC_Report.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091007093730/http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/specialsession/9/docs/UNFFMGC_Report.pdf|url-status=dead|title=Human rights in Palestine and Other Occupied Arab Territories: Report of the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict|archive-date=October 7, 2009}} As noted in the press release, the mission concluded "that serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law were committed by Israel in the context of its military operations in Gaza from December 27, 2008, to January 18, 2009, and that Israel committed actions amounting to war crimes, and possibly crimes against humanity. The Mission also found that Palestinian armed groups had committed war crimes, as well as possibly crimes against humanity."[http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/specialsession/9/docs/HRCPressRelease29092009.doc Press release on presentation of the report to the Human Rights Council – English] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100703002015/http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/specialsession/9/docs/HRCPressRelease29092009.doc |date=July 3, 2010 }} September 29, 2009.

According to Gal Beckerman, writing for The Forward, Goldstone explained that what he had headed was not an investigation, but a fact-finding mission. "If this was a court of law, there would have been nothing proven", Goldstone said, emphasizing that his conclusion that war crimes had been committed was always intended as conditional. However, Beckerman says that the report "is replete with bold and declarative legal conclusions seemingly at odds with the cautious and conditional explanations of its author."Gal Beckerman: [http://www.forward.com/articles/116269/ Goldstone: "' If This Was a Court Of Law, There Would Have Been Nothing Proven.'"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112052802/http://www.forward.com/articles/116269/ |date=January 12, 2012 }} The Forward, October 16, 2009.

Reactions to the report's findings were varied. The report was not immediately ratified by a UNHRC resolution. This step was postponed to March 2010.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8286364.stm UN puts off action on Gaza report] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928003437/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8286364.stm |date=September 28, 2018 }} BBC News Friday, October 2, 2009. This delay is attributed to diplomatic pressure from Western members of the council, including the US which joined in April 2009 and, surprisingly, from the Palestinian Authority representative.Andrew Wander: [http://english.aljazeera.net/focus/2009/09/200993083711928255.html Gaza report hobbled by diplomacy?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031151604/https://www.aljazeera.com/ |date=October 31, 2022 }} Al Jazeera English, October 1, 2009.[http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/10/200910332332264764.html Gaza report vote delay angers Hamas] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031151532/https://www.aljazeera.com/ |date=October 31, 2022 }} Al Jazeera English, October 3, 2009.Ben Lynfield: [http://news.scotsman.com/world/Palestinian-fury-as-Abbas-stalls.5702488.jp Palestinian fury as Abbas stalls Israeli war crimes vote] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031151529/https://www.scotsman.com/news |date=October 31, 2022 }} The Scotsman, October 5, 2009.

About the U.S. pressure, UNHRC representative Harold Hongju Koh described the U.S. participation to the council as "an experiment" with the Goldstone report being the first test.Jordans, Fank. [https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ivHsBj7b_n475_eVwLKcA7iiwCIwD9B0FAA03 "US officials: UN rights membership an 'experiment'"]{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} AP, September 29, 2009.

The report was finally ratified by 14 October UNHRC resolution A/HRC/S-12/L.1.[http://www.eyeontheun.org/assets/attachments/documents/7958A_HRC_S12_L1.pdf The human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem], {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718153445/http://www.eyeontheun.org/assets/attachments/documents/7958A_HRC_S12_L1.pdf |date=July 18, 2011 }} Human Rights Council Twelfth special session October 15–16, 2009 Like the January 12 resolution but unlike the report, this ratification condemns Israel, not Hamas.{{cite news|last=MacInnis|first=Laura|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/16/AR2009101600841.html |title=U.N. rights council criticizes Israel over Gaza}} {{dead link|date=June 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}. Reuters, October 16, 2009. The "unbalanced focus" of the ratification was criticized by U.S. State Department spokesman Ian Kelly,Edwards, Steven. [https://nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=2113471 "UN report accuses Israel of war crimes"] {{dead link|date=April 2017|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}. National Post, October 17, 2009. U.S. ambassador to the UNHRC Douglas Griffiths and Richard Goldstone himself.Hui Min Neo. [https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gsdjgCX2JtwyHVtOEKfuVieGZaLw "UN rights council endorses damning Gaza report"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091022011608/https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gsdjgCX2JtwyHVtOEKfuVieGZaLw |date=October 22, 2009 }}. AFP. October 16, 2009.

On 1 April 2011, Goldstone retracted his claim that it was Israeli government policy to deliberately target citizens, saying "If I had known then what I know now, the Goldstone Report would have been a different document".{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/reconsidering-the-goldstone-report-on-israel-and-war-crimes/2011/04/01/AFg111JC_story.html | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=April 1, 2011 | first=Kathleen | last=Parker | title=Reconsidering the Goldstone Report on Israel and war crimes}} On 14 April 2011 the three other co-authors of the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict of 2008–2009, Hina Jilani, Christine Chinkin and Desmond Travers, released a joint statement criticizing Goldstone's recantation of this aspect of the report. They all agreed that the report was valid and that Israel and Hamas had failed to investigate alleged war crimes satisfactorily.{{cite news |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iAXwmnGEbQBBCvdn82UdbTFpnECA?docId=CNG.81e3f073a7ff60182e936e010de882cd.791 |title=Authors reject calls to retract Goldstone report on Gaza |date=2011-04-14 |agency=AFP |access-date=April 17, 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103001534/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iAXwmnGEbQBBCvdn82UdbTFpnECA?docId=CNG.81e3f073a7ff60182e936e010de882cd.791 |archive-date=January 3, 2013 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/apr/14/goldstone-report-statement-un-gaza|title=Goldstone report: Statement issued by members of UN mission on Gaza war|author1=Hina Jilani |author2=Christine Chinkin |author3=Desmond Travers |date=2011-04-14|work=The Guardian|access-date=April 17, 2011|location=London}}

On 23 July 2014, during the 2014 Gaza War, the UNHRC adopted resolution S-21 for a commission of inquiry to "investigate all violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, particularly in the occupied Gaza Strip, in the context of the military operations conducted since 13 June 2014".{{cite web|url=http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=14897&LangID=E |title=Human Rights Council establishes Independent, International Commission of Inquiry for the Occupied Palestinian Territory |website=Ohchr.org |access-date=22 October 2016}} The alleged anti-Israel bias in the mandate of the commission was denounced by Gregory J. Wallance in The Guardian{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/apr/14/goldstone-report-statement-un-gaza|title=U.N. council's commission of omission|author=Gregory J. Wallance|date=2014-08-03|work=The Guardian|access-date=2014-08-03}} and by the US, Canadian and Australian delegates to the UNHRC during the debate of the resolution.

During its 51st session in 2007, the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women said that it

Reaffirms that the Israeli occupation remains a major obstacle for Palestinian women with regard to their advancement, self-reliance and integration in the development planning of their societyCommission on the Status of Women, Report on the fifty first session, E/2007/27, E/CN.6/2007/9, [http://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N07/282/48/PDF/N0728248.pdf?OpenElement daccessdds.un.org] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718234438/http://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N07/282/48/PDF/N0728248.pdf?OpenElement |date=July 18, 2011 }}

A spokeswoman outlined Israel's position on the resolution:

As in previous years, this Commission has before it, once again, a resolution on the sole situation of Palestinian women. In monopolizing attention for Palestinian women and promoting uneven standards, the resolution turns a humanitarian issue into a political one. Hence, it damages the prospects for peace based on mutual respect and understanding.Statement by Ms. Meirav Eilon-Shahar, Counsellor. Explanation of Position, Draft resolution: Situation of and assistance to Palestinian women, E/CN.6/2007/L.2 (51st Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, New York, 9 March 2007), [http://israel-un.mfa.gov.il/mfm/web/main/document.asp?SubjectID=111692&MissionID=81&LanguageID=0&StatusID=0&DocumentID=-1 israel-un.mfa.gov.il] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031151546/http://embassies.gov.il/ |date=October 31, 2022 }}

Jean Ziegler, the UN special rapporteur on the right to food, published in October 2003 a reportThe right to food. Report by the Special Rapporteur, Jean Ziegler Addendum. Mission to the Occupied Palestinian Territories. UN Document E/CN.4/2004/10/Add.2, published October 31, 2003, available online at {{cite web|url=http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G03/164/89/PDF/G0316489.pdf?OpenElement |title=Ods Home Page |access-date=2011-01-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120924033005/http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G03/164/89/PDF/G0316489.pdf?OpenElement |archive-date=September 24, 2012 |df=mdy }} accusing Israel of starving Palestinian children. The Israeli ambassador to the UN demanded that the report be withdrawn and accused its author of abusing his office.[http://english.aljazeera.net/archive/2003/10/200849163825656323.html Palestinian food report upsets Israel] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031151532/https://www.aljazeera.com/ |date=October 31, 2022 }} Al Jazeera (Reuters). October 10, 2003

{{Main|UNESCO}}

UNESCO has adopted hundreds of decisions on the access of Palestinians to education. Palestine is the only territory with a yearly decision to this effect.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}} UNESCO also adopts yearly resolutions for the preservation of the old Jerusalem, a UNESCO world heritage site included in the List of World Heritage in Danger.

In 2007, an emergency session of UNESCO was held to discuss Israeli archaeological excavations at the Mughrabi ascent in the Old City of Jerusalem. The session report said that the excavations were "a naked challenge by the Israeli occupation authorities" to the UN position on the status of Jerusalem.Latest developments in the situation of the World Heritage Site of the Old City of Jerusalem, Special Plenary Meeting ( April 16 to 17, 2007), unesdoc.unesco.org Following a fact-finding mission, Israel was exonerated of blame by the executive board.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}

UNESCO never criticized repeated episodes of mechanized excavations within the Temple Mount ground by the Muslim Waqf, and is financing a museum{{cite web|url=http://portal.unesco.org/culture/es/ev.php-URL_ID=30913&URL_DO=DO_PRINTPAGE&URL_SECTION=201.html|title=The Qur'an manuscripts in the al-Haram al-Sharif Islamic Museum, Jerusalem: Sector de Cultura de la UNESCO|date=February 13, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080213222315/http://portal.unesco.org/culture/es/ev.php-URL_ID%3D30913%26URL_DO%3DDO_PRINTPAGE%26URL_SECTION%3D201.html|archive-date=February 13, 2008|access-date=September 27, 2018|url-status=live}} within the al-Aqsa Mosque compound (the Temple Mount).{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}} The museum closed for non-Muslims in 2000.

Many Palestinian refugees are located in Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. In 2003 Amnesty International sent a memorandum to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), expressing concerns about discrimination against Palestinians. CERD responded in 2004, urging the Lebanese government to "take measures to ameliorate the situation of Palestinian refugees ... and at a minimum to remove all legislative provisions and change policies that have a discriminatory effect on the Palestinian population in comparison with other non-citizens."Amnesty International, Exiled and suffering: Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, p.7, available online at {{cite web|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde18/010/2007/en/ |title=Lebanon: Exiled and suffering: Palestinian refugees in Lebanon |date=October 17, 2007 |access-date=2011-02-13 |df=mdy }} accessed 13 February 2011

The violent takeover of Gaza by Hamas in 2007 has, so far, not been condemned at the UN.{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}} In November 2007, Ha'aretz reported that the Palestinian Authority observer at the UN, Riad Mansour, had sought to include a clause "expressing concern about the takeover by illegal militias of Palestinian Authority institutions in June 2007" and calling for the reversal of this situation. It reported diplomatic sources as saying that Mansour had been subjected to a barrage of insults, led by the representatives of Egypt, Syria, and Libya. Delegates from some Arab countries had claimed that Mansour's initiative would be interpreted as an official UN condemnation of Hamas, and would gain Israel international legitimacy for cutting electricity and fuel supplies to Gaza. Mansour agreed to softer language expressing "concern about an illegal takeover."Shlomo Shamir, "Arabs foil PA condemnation of Hamas' takeover of Gaza at UN", Ha'aretz November 18, 2007, [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=925220&contrassID=1&subContrassID=1 www.haaretz.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080401110028/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=925220&contrassID=1&subContrassID=1 |date=April 1, 2008 }}

Between May and September 2007, the Nahr al-Bared Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon became the center of fighting between the Lebanese Internal Security Force and Fatah al-Islam gunmen.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-lebanon-fighting-camp-idUSL0261343920070902|title=Lebanon army takes control of the camp after the battle|publisher= Reuters|date= September 2, 2007}} The Lebanese Army was supported in this action by Palestinian movements responsible for security in the camp.{{cite news|url=http://www.iol.co.za/news/world/hariri-lebanon-fears-worst-1.353956|title=Hariri: Lebanon fears worst|work= Independent Online (South Africa)|date= May 21, 2007}} Bombing by the Lebanese army left the camp in ruins and caused the mass displacement of 27,000 Palestinian refugees to other camps."The majority of the refugees fled the camp and adjacent areas with few or no belongings believing that they would be returning after a few days. Overnight they lost everything – their homes, personal and household belongings, commercial property and assets, and jobs." [http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20090912143703/http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWFiles2009.nsf/FilesByRWDocUnidFilename/JBRN-7S8J9J-full_report.pdf/%24File/full_report.pdf Emergency Appeal for Northern Lebanon] Final report, April 30, 2009, UNRWA The UN Security Council issued two statements during the fighting, both condemning Fatah al-Islam and "fully support[ing] the efforts carried out by the Lebanese Government and army to ensure security and stability throughout Lebanon".[https://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sc9024.doc.htm SC/9024 Security Council press statement on Lebanon] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130421091806/http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/sc9024.doc.htm |date=April 21, 2013 }} May 23, 2007Reilly, William, "U.N. Council, officials plea for Lebanon", [http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-Industry/2007/05/23/UN-council-officials-plea-for-Lebanon/UPI-96261179973261/ UPI (May 23, 2007)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928044228/https://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-Industry/2007/05/23/UN-council-officials-plea-for-Lebanon/UPI-96261179973261/ |date=September 28, 2018 }}[http://www.securitycouncilreport.org/atf/cf/%7B65BFCF9B-6D27-4E9C-8CD3-CF6E4FF96FF9%7D/Lebanon%20SPRST200717.pdf S/PRST/2007/17 Statement by the President of the Security Council] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415131759/http://www.securitycouncilreport.org/atf/cf/%7B65BFCF9B-6D27-4E9C-8CD3-CF6E4FF96FF9%7D/Lebanon%20SPRST200717.pdf |date=April 15, 2016 }} June 11, 2007Leopold, Evelyn, "U.N. Council backs Beirut: Worried by arms traffic", [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-lebanon-un-arms-idUSN1121233820070612 Reuters (June 11, 2007)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520111159/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-lebanon-un-arms-idUSN1121233820070612 |date=May 20, 2022 }} Khaled Abu Toameh{{cite web|url=https://www.commentarymagazine.com/foreign-policy/middle-east/silence-on-nahr-al-bared/|title=Silence on Nahr al-Bared|date=July 31, 2007|website=Commentary}} and Jonathan Kay[http://www2.canada.com/components/print.aspx?id=96c43ca9-ec26-470a-adda-93476ff79799 Jenin comes to Lebanon. So where is the outcry?] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141209082302/http://www2.canada.com/components/print.aspx?id=96c43ca9-ec26-470a-adda-93476ff79799 |date=December 9, 2014 }}, by Jonathan Kay, National Post Tuesday, May 29, 2007, faulted the UN for not condemning the Lebanese Army, arguing that it had condemned Israeli Defense Forces in similar circumstances in the past, namely the Battle of Jenin.

Several observers accuse the UN of promoting this discrimination by creating a special status for Palestinian refugees. A report by the International Federation for Human Rights stated:

Because the UNRWA's position consists of the prospect of a conflict resolution leading to the creation of an independent Palestinian State and to the return of the refugees on that territory, as a definitive solution, it tends to justify the Lebanese policies granting the Palestinian refugees only a minimal legal status. In other words, the Palestinian refugees' rights are limited to the right of residence as a condition of the application of UNRWA's humanitarian assistance.Lebanon Palestinian refugees: systematic discrimination and complete lack of interest on the part of the international community, n°356/2 March 2003 [http://www.fidh.org/magmoyen/rapport/2003/lb356a.pdf www.fidh.org] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216014820/http://www.fidh.org/magmoyen/rapport/2003/lb356a.pdf |date=February 16, 2008 }}

A 2007 op-ed by Nicole Brackman and Asaf Rominowsky stated:

UNRWA serves as a crucial tool of legitimacy for the Palestinian refugee issue — as long as the office is active, how could anyone question the Palestinian refugee problem? Thus an oxymoronic situation: Despite the Israeli disengagement from Gaza in 2005 and the creation in 1993 of a Palestinian Authority with jurisdiction over the Palestinian refugee camps in Gaza/West Bank, UNRWA remains the key social, medical, educational and professional service provider for Palestinians living in "refugee" camps. This runs contrary to every principle of normal territorial integrity and autonomy.Brackman, Nicole and Asaf Romirowsky. [http://washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070621/EDITORIAL/106210010/1013/EDITORIAL&template=printart Dubious refugee relief. Is U.N. aiding or abetting Palestinians?]. June 21, 2007. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080424090438/http://washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20070621%2FEDITORIAL%2F106210010%2F1013%2FEDITORIAL&template=printart |date=April 24, 2008 }}

A similar argument was made by commentators in The IndependentMiller, Judith and David Samuels. [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/no-way-home-the-tragedy-of-the-palestinian-diaspora-1806790.html "No way home: The tragedy of the Palestinian diaspora"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928003330/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/no-way-home-the-tragedy-of-the-palestinian-diaspora-1806790.html |date=September 28, 2018 }} The Independent. October 22, 2009. and in a 2009 report from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.Lindsay, James. [http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC04.php?CID=306 "Fixing UNRWA"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415224254/http://washingtoninstitute.org/templateC04.php?CID=306 |date=April 15, 2009 }} www.washingtoninstitute.org. Retrieved November 20, 2010.

There have been occasional reports of UN personnel becoming caught up in hostilities.

On November 22, 2002, during a gun battle between the IDF and Islamic Jihad militants, Iain Hook, UNRWA project manager of the Jenin camp rehabilitation project, was killed by Israeli gunfire.[http://domino.un.org/unispal.nsf/9a798adbf322aff38525617b006d88d7/75155d14e30f2c6a85256f6c005743a9!OpenDocument Jenin rebuilt] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070212181133/http://domino.un.org/unispal.nsf/9a798adbf322aff38525617b006d88d7/75155d14e30f2c6a85256f6c005743a9%21OpenDocument |date=February 12, 2007 }} Iain Hook shot and killed by an Israeli soldier November 22, 2002. A soldier had reportedly mistaken him for a militant and a cellphone in his hand for a gun or grenade.{{cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9904E0DB1738F934A15752C1A9649C8B63|title=West Bank Explosion Kills 2 'Most Wanted' |last=Fisher |first=Ian |date=November 27, 2002|quote=The military has said it fired on Mr. Hook, mistakenly believing he had a gun or grenade in his hand. |work=New York Times|access-date=2012-06-29}}

On May 11, 2004, Israel said that a UN ambulance had been used by Palestinian militants for their getaway following a military engagement in Southern Gaza,Asman, David. [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,122648,00.html "The Asman Observer, Second Front"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216033214/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,122648,00.html |date=February 16, 2008 }}. Fox News. June 14, 2004,

In 2004, Israel complained about comments made by Peter Hansen, head of UNRWA. Hansen had said that there were Hamas members on the UNRWA payroll and that he did not see that as a crime, they were not necessarily militants, and had to follow UN rules on staying neutral."Canada looking at UN agency over Palestinian connection", CBC News, October 4, 2004, [https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/canada-looking-at-un-agency-over-palestinian-connection-1.506576 CBC website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903233906/https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/canada-looking-at-un-agency-over-palestinian-connection-1.506576 |date=September 3, 2019 }}Matthew Levitt, Dennis Ross, Hamas: Politics, Charity, and Terrorism in the Service of Jihad, Yale University Press, 2007, {{ISBN|0-300-12258-6}}, {{ISBN|978-0-300-12258-9}}Joshua Muravchik, The Future of the United Nations: Understanding the Past to Chart a Way Forward. AEI Press, 2005. {{ISBN|0-8447-7183-X}}, 9780844771830

In January 2009 during the Gaza War, many people were killed by Israeli bombing outside a school run by the UNRWA. Initially, the UN accused Israel of directly bombing the school. Maxwell Gaylord, the UN humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinian territories, described the incidents as tragic. Israel claims that a Hamas squad was firing mortar shells from the immediate vicinity of the school. Hamas denies this claim. In February 2009, Gaylord said that the UN "would like to clarify that the shelling and all of the fatalities took place outside and not inside the school".{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7814054.stm|title=Strike at Gaza school 'kills 40' |work=BBC News|date=January 7, 2009 |access-date=October 22, 2016}}{{cite news|title=Gaza school strike disputed |publisher=CNN |date=January 7, 2009|url=http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2009/01/07/sweeney.gaza.school.debate.cnn}}{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} The headquarters of the UNRWA in Gaza was also shelled on January 15. Tons of food and fuel were destroyed. Israel claims that militants ran for safety inside the UN compound after firing on Israeli forces from outside. UNRWA spokesman Chris Gunness dismissed the Israeli claims as "baseless".{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/15/israel-shells-un-headquar_n_158078.html |work=Huffington Post |title=Israel Shells UN Headquarters In Gaza |date=January 15, 2009}}

In March 2012, UN official Khulood Badawi, an Information and Media Coordinator for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, tweeted a picture of a Palestinian child covered in blood captioned the picture with "Another child killed by #Israel... Another father carrying his child to a grave in #Gaza." It was later stated that the picture was published in 2006 and was of a Palestinian girl who had died in an accident unrelated to Israel.{{cite news |url=http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?ID=262098&R=R1 |title=Israel: Fire UN official over false Gaza photo |date=2012-03-16 |newspaper=The Jerusalem Post}}{{cite news |url=http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=261757 |title=Fake photos of escalation posted on Twitter |date=2012-03-14 |newspaper=The Jerusalem Post |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317121000/http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=261757 |archive-date=March 17, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}Sheera Frenkel, [http://northiowatoday.com/?p=12254 Tweets of misleading photos feed Israeli-Palestinian feud] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220624162508/https://northiowatoday.com/2012/03/14/tweets-of-misleading-photos-feed-israeli-palestinian-feud/ |date=June 24, 2022 }}, The McClatchy Company, March 14, 2012. Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations Ron Prosor called for her dismissal, stating that she was "directly engaged in spreading misinformation". He accused her conduct as deviating from "the organization's responsibility to remain impartial" and said that such actions "contribute to incitement, conflict and, ultimately, violence." She later tweeted that she mistakenly had tweeted an old photo.Herb Keinon, [http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=262541 No sign UN will fire worker over incendiary tweet] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120030628/http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=262541 |date=January 20, 2013 }}, Jerusalem Post, March 20, 2012. Ma'an News Agency reported a week later that the hospital medical report on the dead girl read that she died "due to falling from a high area during the Israeli strike on Gaza". There are differing accounts of how the Israeli airstrike, reported being as little as 100 meters away, may have caused the accident.Charlotte Alfred, [http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=471498 Twitter flap obscures details of Gaza girl's death] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116101556/http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=471498 |date=January 16, 2013 }}, Ma'an News Agency, 27/03/2012 (updated) 01/04/2012 09:31

{{Portal|Politics|Palestine}}

• List of United Nations resolutions concerning Palestine
• UN Watch

{{clear}}

{{Reflist|group=note}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Refbegin|30em}}

• {{Cite book | author=Khouri, Fred | title=The Arab-Israeli Dilemma | publisher=Syracuse University Press | year=1985 | isbn=0-8156-2340-2 | url-access=registration | url=https://archive.org/details/arabisraelidilem0000khou | edition=3rd }}
• {{Cite book |author=Lall, Arthur S. |title=The UN and the Middle East Crisis, 1967 |publisher=Columbia University Press |location= New York |year=1970 |isbn=0-231-08635-0}}
• {{Cite book |author=Alfred E. Kellermann |title= Israel among the Nations|publisher= Kluwer Law International|location= The Hague, Netherlands|year= 1998|isbn=90-411-1142-5}}
• {{Cite book |author=Dore Gold |title= Tower of Babble|publisher= Three Rivers Press|location= New York|year= 2004|isbn=1-4000-5494-X}}
• {{Cite book |title= The Palestine Question: Documents Adopted by the United Nations and Other International Organisations and Conferences|publisher= Progress Publishers|location= Moscow|year= 1984 |url=https://archive.org/details/thepalestinequestiondocuments}}
• Kim, Soo Yeon and Bruce Russett, "The New Politics of Voting Alignments in the United Nations General Assembly", International Organization Vol. 50, No. 4 (Autumn, 1996), pp. 629–652 [https://www.jstor.org/stable/2704240 The New Politics of Voting Alignments in the United Nations General Assembly] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928045537/https://www.jstor.org/stable/2704240 |date=September 28, 2018 }}
• {{Cite book |author1=Gerald Steinberg |author2=Anne Herzberg |title= The Goldstone Report 'Reconsidered': A Critical Analysis|year= 2011|publisher=NGO Monitor/Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs |isbn=978-9659179305}}

{{refend}}

{{commons category}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130426020201/http://www2.ohchr.org/english/countries/ps/mandate/ Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights on Palestinian territories occupied since 1967], part of Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20071004211032/http://www.un.int/palestine// Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the UN]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20051215234725/http://domino.un.org/unispal.nsf UNISPAL], the UN Information System on the Question of Palestine
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20050402042752/http://www.un.org/Depts/dpa/qpalnew/dpr.htm UN Division for Palestinian Rights]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20051215181520/http://www.un.org/depts/dpa/qpalnew/committee.htm UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20051214030136/http://domino.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/9a798adbf322aff38525617b006d88d7/18402612268cc414852570a4005a398c%21OpenDocument International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People].
• [https://www.un.org/Depts/dpi/palestine/ The Question of Palestine & the United Nations], a booklet produced by the UN Department of Public Information.

{{United Nations' relations with its Member States}}

{{Foreign relations of Palestine}}

{{Palestine topics}}

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United Nations

Category:Criticism of the United Nations

Category:Palestine