Some 40 countries on Monday (January 16th) demanded the lifting of sanctions adopted by Israel against the Palestinian Authority in retaliation for a UN General Assembly resolution asking the International Court of Justice to examine the occupation. Israeli.
On December 30, the General Assembly passed a resolution requesting an opinion from the ICJ on the question of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.
A few days later, to make the Palestinian Authority “
pay the price
” for pushing for this resolution, Israel announced a series of sanctions, including financial ones.
Read alsoIn Israel, large processions against judicial reform
In a statement sent to journalists on Monday, some 40 UN member states, reaffirming "
their unwavering support
" for the ICJ and international law, express their "
deep concern about the Israeli government's decision to impose punitive measures against the Palestinian people, leadership and civil society following the General Assembly's request
" to the Court.
"
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.
"United in Rejection"
The declaration is signed by countries having voted for this resolution (Algeria, Argentina, Belgium, Pakistan, South Africa, Ireland...), but also by some having abstained (Japan, France, South Korea... ) and others who voted against (Germany, Estonia, etc.).
“
This is important because it shows that regardless of how countries voted, they are united in rejecting punitive measures
,” Palestinian Ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour said in a statement.
Read alsoIn Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu wants to subjugate the judiciary
Asked about the publication of this statement, a spokeswoman for the UN Secretary General repeated Antonio Guterres' "
deep concern
" about the "
recent Israeli measures against the Palestinian Authority
", stressing that "
he should not there should be no reprisals
" in connection 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.