Thu Sep 19 07:27:40 UTC 2024: ## UN General Assembly Demands Israel End Occupation, Calls for Two-State Solution
**New York, September 18, 2024** – Norway, speaking on behalf of many nations, delivered a scathing rebuke of Israel’s continued occupation of Palestinian territories at the United Nations General Assembly. The statement, delivered by Ambassador Merete Brattested, echoed the recent International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling that declared Israel’s presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory a “wrongful act of a continuing character” in violation of international law.
The ICJ’s advisory opinion, issued in July, called for an immediate end to Israeli settlement activity, the evacuation of all settlers, and the repeal of legislation maintaining the current situation. The court also urged all other states to refrain from aiding Israel in perpetuating this “illegal presence.”
“This is an unequivocal message which Israel must comply with without delay,” Ambassador Brattested declared. She further emphasized that all nations have a responsibility to support the ICJ’s ruling and work towards a resolution to the conflict.
The Norwegian ambassador also condemned the ongoing violence in both Gaza and the West Bank. She described the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, ravaged by over eleven months of war, as “unforgivable.” In the West Bank, she noted the escalating violence and condemned Israeli military operations and settler violence targeting Palestinians.
“The Palestinian people have a right to self-determination,” Brattested stated, reaffirming the ICJ’s call for an independent and sovereign Palestinian state encompassing all of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Norway’s recent recognition of the State of Palestine underlines its commitment to a two-state solution, she emphasized. “There is no way to provide lasting security for both Palestinians and Israelis without the establishment of a Palestinian state,” she said. “A two-state solution requires an Israeli and a Palestinian state.”
The Norwegian delegation called for urgent action from all nations to support the ICJ’s rulings and move towards a peaceful resolution. “The current trajectory is not sustainable,” Ambassador Brattested concluded. “A change of course is urgently needed.”
The statement was followed by a vote on a resolution aligning with the ICJ’s opinion. Norway, along with a large number of countries, is expected to vote in favor of the resolution.
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