The annual session of the United Nations General Assembly began to pass its annual anti-Israel resolutions by late October. The first of a number of resolutions was the one dealing with Israeli settlements in the territories. A majority of 131 in favour, 1 against (Israel) and 7 abstentions, called on Israel to desist from taking any action designed to change the legal status, geographical nature or demographic composition of the territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem. The Assembly did not make threats and asked the Secretary General to contact Israel and submit a report to the Assembly and the Security Council by the end of the year. Text:
The General Assembly,
Stressing the urgent need to achieve a just and lasting peace in the Middle East,
Expressing grave anxiety and concern over the present serious situation in the occupied Arab territories as a result of the continued Israeli occupation and the measures and actions taken by the Government of Israel, as the occupying Power, and designed to change the legal status, geographical nature and demographic composition of those territories,
Considering that the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, is applicable to all the Arab territories occupied since 5 June 1967,
1. Determines that all such measures and actions taken by Israel in the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since 1967 have no legal validity and constitute a serious obstruction of efforts aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace in the Middle East;
2. Strongly deplores the persistence of Israel in carrying out such measures, in particular the establishment of settlements in the occupied Arab territories;
3. Calls upon Israel to comply strictly with its international obligations in accordance with the principles of international law and the provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949;
4. Calls once more upon the Government of Israel, as the occupying Power, to desist forthwith from taking any action which would result in changing the legal status, geographical nature or demographic composition of the Arab territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem;
5. Urges all States parties to the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War to ensure respect for and compliance with its provisions in all the Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem;
6. Requests the Secretary-General:
(a) To undertake urgent contacts with the Government of Israel to ensure the prompt implementation of the present resolution;
(b) To submit a report to the General Assembly and the Security Council, not later than 31 December 1977, on the results of his contacts;
7. Requests the Security Council to review the situation in the light of the present resolution and of the report of the Secretary-General.