The United Nations General Assembly on Friday overwhelmingly voted to endorse a declaration calling for “tangible, timebound, and irreversible steps” toward a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians.
The seven-page declaration stemmed from an international conference held at the U.N. in July, co-hosted by Saudi Arabia and France, which sought to revive efforts to resolve the decades-long conflict. The United States and Israel boycotted the meeting.
The resolution received 142 votes in favor, 10 against, and 12 abstentions. Sri Lanka was among the countries that voted in support.
The text emphasizes the urgent need to implement a two-state solution as the foundation for peace in the Middle East, with calls for concrete measures to advance negotiations and safeguard the rights of both Israelis and Palestinians.
The vote comes ahead of a gathering of world leaders at the U.N., where the future of the peace process is expected to be a central issue. (Newswire)
