UN committee backs Palestinian sovereignty over natural resources in occupied territories

DUBAI: A UN General Assembly committee adopted a resolution on Wednesday affirming the permanent sovereignty of Palestinians and the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources, Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.

The resolution, submitted by the Group of 77 and China, passed the Second Committee, the assembly’s economic and financial committee, with 151 votes in favor, including all European Union member states and Canada. The seven countries which voted against were the US, Israel, Colombia, Paraguay, Palau, Nauru and Micronesia, and 11 abstained.

The resolution is adopted every year. Last year it passed the committee with 152 votes in favor, eight against and 12 abstentions. It will now go to the full 193-member General Assembly for formal adoption, expected in December.