UN Documents
Security Council | General Assembly | International Court of Justice | Secretary General
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For all UN Documents, click here
Security Council
Security Council Resolution 242 (November 22, 1967)
Generally accepted by the international community as the primary legal basis for a negotiated settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian question, this resolution calls on Israel to relinquish control of territories occupied in the war of 1967. Commentary on Resolution 242
Security Council Resolution 338 (October 22, 1973)
Calls on all parties to abide by Resolution 242.
Security Council Resolution 446 (March 22, 1979)
In this resolution, the Security Council "determines that the policy and practices of Israel in establishing settlements in the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since 1967 have no legal validity and constitute a serious obstruction to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East."
Security Council Resolution 799 (December 18, 1992)
This resolution reiterates the Council's strong condemnation of the "action taken by Israel, the occupying Power, to deport hundreds of Palestinian civilians, and expresses its firm opposition to any such deportation by Israel."
Security Council Resolution 1322 (October 7, 2000)
This resolution condemns the violence in Jerusalem and calls upon Israel to abide by its legal obligations under the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention on the protection of civilians in times of war. Washington exceptionally did not veto this harsh criticism of its ally, arguing that US abstention "was in the best interests of the United States and Israel."
Security Council Resolution 1397 (March 12, 2002)
Affirming a vision of the Middle East as a region "where two States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and recognized borders," the Security Council calls for an end to the violence and for a return to the negotiating table.
Security Council Resolution 1515 (November 19, 2003)
The Security Council unanimously passed this Russian-authored resolution that endorses the road map for peace in the Middle East and re-affirms the commitment to actualize a two-state solution.
Security Council Resolution 1860 (January 8, 2009)
In Resolution 1860 the Security Council deals with the situation in Gaza during the Israeli military siege. Condemning all violence directed against civilians, the Council called for an immediate ceasefire followed by the full withdrawal of Israeli forces. The Council also requested unimpeded humanitarian assistance in Gaza. The Resolution passed with 14 votes in favor whereas the US abstained.
General Assembly
General Assembly Resolution 181 (November 29, 1947)
General Assembly Resolution 194 (December 11, 1948)
Calls on Israel to respect the right of return of Palestinian refugees.
Letter from Swiss Ambassador to the General Assembly on the Israel-Palestine Conflict (July 5, 2005)
After the year-long task of serving as a "depositary of the Geneva Conventions" to monitor Israeli compliance with international law, Swiss Ambassador to the UN Peter Maurer declares that "Israel's occupation of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, is not taking place in a legal void. International humanitarian law […] must be respected." This report supports the International Court of Justice ruling on the wall and suggests dual dialogue groups to mediate between the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority instead of a previously suggested conference of parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention.
General Assembly Resolution ES-10/15 (August 2, 2004)
The General Assembly recognizes the International Court of Justice's ruling on the illegality of Israel's West Bank barrier, and calls on Israel to cease construction and dismantle the wall as well as make reparations to Palestinians for damages incurred.
General Assembly Resolution ES-10/8 (December 20, 2001)
The General Assembly adopted a resolution on illegal Israeli actions in Occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The resolution calls on Israel and Palestine to implement the recommendations of the Mitchell Report.
Declaration From The Conference of High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention (December 5, 2001)
The 114 participating governments reaffirm the applicability of the Fourth Geneva Convention to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and express their concern over Israel's continued violation of the Convention. (Reliefweb)
Yasser Arafat's Speech to the General Assembly (December 13, 1988)
In 1988, the General Assembly took the unprecedented step of holding a special session in Geneva after the United States refused to grant Yasser Arafat the visa needed to address the Assembly in New York. In his speech to the Assembly, Arafat accepted Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 and called for an international conference on the Palestinian conflict, under the auspices of the United Nations.
International Court of Justice
ICJ Advisory Opinion (July 9, 2004)
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled that Israel's West Bank barrier violates international law. Acknowledging Israel's right to protect its citizens, the Court said it must do so within the law and should compensate Palestinians for property lost or damaged by the building of the wall. The ICJ urges the UN Security Council and General Assembly to consider further action to end the illegal activity.
Secretary General Reports
Report of the Secretary General on Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Including East Jerusalem (November 5, 2008)
Report of the Secretary General on Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Including Jerusalem, and the Occupied Syrian Golan (November 5, 2008)
Statement of Secretary-General on the Situation in the Middle East (March 12, 2002)
In an open meeting with the Security Council, Secretary General Kofi Annan calls on the Israeli and Palestinian people to stop deadly attacks, and on both leaders to urgently take steps towards a political settlement through negotiations.
Report of the Secretary-General on the Situation in the Middle East and the Question of Palestine (November 22, 2000)
Kofi Annan's report to the General Assembly and the Security Council includes comments on conditions in the region, and notes from the Israeli and Palestinian representatives at the UN.
Other Key Documents
The Geneva Accord (October 12, 2003)
Israeli opposition members in the Knesset, Palestinian legislators and others authored the Draft Permanent Status Agreement, also known as the Geneva Accord. The coalition worked on this peace plan for three years before releasing it to the public in October 2003.
A Performance-Based Roadmap to a Permanent Two-State Solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (April 30, 2003)
The complete text of the "roadmap" to peace drafted by the Quartet of the European Union, Russia, the UN, and the US, dated December 20, 2002 and released on April 30, 2003.
Situation Report from the Humanitarian Coordinator (January 5, 2009)
This OCHA report describes the humanitarian situation in Gaza as the Israeli assault continues. Humanitarian organizations and ambulances are unable to provide adequate aid as Israeli military operations and attacks have blocked internal movement in the Gaza strip. More than 75 percent of the Gazan population is without electricity, which affects the supply of water and sanitation. Hospitals are unable to respond to the needs of patients due to lack of space and shortage of pain killers.
Humanitarian Impact of the West Bank Barrier (January 2006)
This UN report reveals that the Israeli-built separation wall has an extremely harmful impact on Palestinians living in the West Bank. Since Israel's Gaza pullout, the Israeli army has increased the number of roadblocks and barriers, and has tightened travel restrictions for Palestinians in the West Bank. As a result, Palestinians are imprisoned in separate enclaves, or 'ghettos,' which makes it harder for them to reach properties, markets and medical services. Israel claims its network of permanent checkpoints, concrete barriers and temporary mobile roadblocks are needed to protect Israeli towns and Jewish settlements from Palestinian attacks.
Israeli Government Resolution Regarding the Disengagement Plan (June 6, 2004)
In June 2004, the Israeli Cabinet adopted the "disengagement plan", which the Knesset later endorsed in October 2004. The plan outlines Israel's unilateral withdrawal, mainly from Gaza, through dismantling settlements and redeploying troops.
Saudi-Initiated Peace Plan (March 25, 2002)
Arab leaders attending the Arab League Summit in Beirut have endorsed the Saudi plan to offer Israel "normal relations in return for full withdrawal from Arab lands and a fair solution for Palestinian Refugees based on UN resolutions."
Tenet Cease-fire Agreement (June 13, 2001)
Israeli-Palestinian cease-fire and security plan, proposed by CIA director George Tenet, which took effect on 13 June 2001.
Report of the Sharm el-Sheikh Fact-Finding Committee ("Mitchell Report") (April 30, 2001)
The long-awaited report on the Israeli-Palestinian crisis calls for both sides to take "immediate steps to end the violence." However, the report abdicates all responsibility for assigning blame and for suggesting a timeline for the implementation of its recommendations.
The Sharm El –Sheikh Memorandum (September 4, 1999)
Considered to be the first major stage of implementation of the Oslo Accords.
Oslo Accords (September 13, 1993)
The Oslo Accords are the main agreement signed between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organisation. However, Palestinian and Israeli negotiators failed to move on from these initial provisions to a permanent status agreement on issues including Jerusalem, borders and refugees.
