About 40 countries are calling for the lifting of the sanctions recently adopted by Israel against the Palestinian Authority

The recent decision taken by Israel to sanction the Palestinian Authority after the vote on a resolution at the United Nations (UN) is causing a stir within the international community.

On December 30, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution requesting an opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the question of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. The non-binding text also demands that Israel put an end to colonization in the occupied territories. A few days later, to make “pay the price” to the Palestinian Authority for having pushed for this resolution, Israel announced a series of sanctions, in particular financial ones like the levy of millions of euros on the taxes due to the Palestinians.

In a statement sent to journalists on Monday January 16, some forty UN member states, reaffirming “their unwavering support” to the ICJ and to international law, express their “deep concern about the decision of the Israeli government to impose punitive measures on the Palestinian people, leadership and civil society after the request of the General Assembly” with the Court.

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“Regardless of each country’s position on the resolution, we reject punitive measures in response to a request for an opinion from the International Court of Justice, and more generally in response to a General Assembly resolution, and we call on to their immediate withdrawal”they add.

“Deep Concern” by Antonio Guterres

The declaration is signed by countries that voted for this resolution (Algeria, Argentina, Belgium, Pakistan, South Africa, Ireland, etc.), but also by some that abstained (Japan, France, South Korea, etc.) and others having voted against (Germany, Estonia, etc.).

“It matters because it shows that regardless of how countries voted, they are united in rejecting punitive measures”welcomed in a press release the Palestinian ambassador to the UN, Riyad Mansour.

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Asked about the publication of this statement, a spokeswoman for the UN Secretary General repeated “deep concern” by Antonio Guterres regarding the “recent Israeli measures against the Palestinian Authority”pointing out that“there should be no retaliation” in conjunction with the ICJ.

A Security Council meeting is due to take place on Wednesday on the Palestinian issue. A previous meeting at the beginning of January, after the visit of an Israeli minister to the esplanade of the Mosques in East Jerusalem, had given rise to a violent pass of arms between Israeli and Palestinian diplomats.

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The World with AFP

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