More than 40 nations ask Israel to lift sanctions on Palestinians

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More than 40 nations including Pakistan urged Israel on Monday to rescind the sanctions it had put in place against the Palestinian Authority earlier in the month because of that organization’s efforts to obtain the UN’s top court to provide an advisory opinion on the Israeli occupation.

A resolution requesting an opinion from the International Court of Justice on the subject of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian areas was adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 30.

Israel retaliated by announcing a slew of economic measures against the Palestinian Authority on January 6 to make it “pay the price” for promoting the resolution.

In a statement to journalists on Monday, about 40 members of the UN expressed “deep concern” over the Israeli government’s decision to impose punitive measures on the Palestinian people, leadership, and civil society in response to the General Assembly’s request to the court. They reaffirmed their “unwavering support” for the ICJ and international law.

The statement is endorsed by countries that voted for the resolution, including Algeria, Argentina, Belgium, Ireland, Pakistan, and South Africa, as well as nations that abstained from voting, including Japan, France, and South Korea, and nations that voted against the resolution, including Germany and Estonia.

The Palestinian issue will be discussed during a UN Security Council meeting on Wednesday.

Israeli and Palestinian diplomats exchanged angry words during a previous meeting this month following the visit of an Israeli minister to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, also known as the Temple Mount in Judaism.