General Assembly Condemns Israel

For the third time, the U.N. General Assembly voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to condemn Israel for a Jewish housing project in Jerusalem but refrained from endorsing Arab calls for economic sanctions.

Instead, the resolution urged member states to “discourage” activities that contribute to Israeli settlements.

The resolution, introduced by Arab and Muslim countries, also recommends convening a conference to enforce international rules on protecting civilians in wartime as they pertain to Palestinians in Israeli-occupied territories.

Advocates of the resolution seek “to prove that no country is above international law,” Palestinian delegate Nasser al-Kidwa said. “The time is approaching when Israel will have to decide whether it is a member of the family of nations or outside that family.”

The United States has voted against the resolution each of the three times.