UN General Assembly Resolution ES-10/19 (2017)

Background

The status of East Jerusalem and its holy sites has been a highly contentious issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Following the Arab-Israeli War (1948-1949), Jerusalem was divided between Israel (western part) and Transjordan (eastern part). On December 13, 1948, Jordan annexed the eastern part of the city, which included the Old City and its holy sites.

Resolution

On December 21, 2017, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution A/RES/ES-10/19, also known as ES-10 / L.22, in response to the United States' recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The resolution was drafted by Yemen and Turkey and was adopted at the 37th plenary meeting of the 10th emergency session during the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly.

The resolution states that "any measures and actions aimed at changing the character, status or demographic composition of the Holy City of Jerusalem shall have no legal effect." The text does not directly address the United States, but its adoption was seen as a rebuke to President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Adoption

The resolution was adopted by 128 votes to 9, with 35 countries abstaining and 21 countries absent. Despite strong opposition from the United States, which had vetoed a similar resolution in the UN Security Council three days earlier, the General Assembly passed the measure.

Context

President Trump's announcement on December 6, 2017, that he would recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital sparked widespread protests and condemnation from around the world. The move was seen as a departure from international norms, as no country had previously recognized Jerusalem as its national capital or maintained an embassy in the city.

The adoption of Resolution ES-10/19 marked a significant rebuke to the United States' position on Jerusalem and reaffirmed the international community's commitment to upholding the status quo regarding the city's holy sites.