List of United Nations resolutions concerning Israel

United Nations Security Council

List of United Nations resolutions concerning Israel refers to the United Nations (UN) resolutions that have been adopted by the UN's various bodies, most notably the United Nations General Assembly and the United Nations Security Council, concerning the state of Israel, its actions, policies, and conflicts with neighboring countries and Palestinian territories. Since the establishment of Israel in 1948, it has been the subject of numerous UN resolutions.

Background

The State of Israel was established on May 14, 1948, following the end of the British Mandate for Palestine. This led to the first Arab-Israeli War, which resulted in Israel expanding its territory beyond the partition plan proposed by the UN. The conflict between Israel and its Arab neighbors, as well as the Palestinian issue, has been a central point of contention in international politics, leading to numerous resolutions by the United Nations.

Key Resolutions

United Nations Security Council

• United Nations Security Council Resolution 242 (1967) - Passed in the aftermath of the Six-Day War, it calls for the withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict and the acknowledgment of the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence of every state in the area.
• United Nations Security Council Resolution 338 (1973) - Calls for a ceasefire in the Yom Kippur War and the implementation of Resolution 242 in all of its parts.
• United Nations Security Council Resolution 478 (1980) - Declares that the Israeli law declaring Jerusalem as the complete and united capital of Israel is null and void and must be rescinded.

United Nations General Assembly

• United Nations General Assembly Resolution 181 (1947) - The Partition Plan for Palestine recommending the end of the British mandate and the partition of the territory into an Arab and a Jewish state.
• United Nations General Assembly Resolution 194 (1948) - Addresses the Palestinian refugee problem and calls for their right of return and compensation.
• United Nations General Assembly Resolution 3379 (1975) - Determined that Zionism is a form of racism and racial discrimination. This resolution was later revoked by United Nations General Assembly Resolution 4686 in 1991.

Controversies and Criticisms

The UN's focus on Israel has been a subject of controversy and criticism. Some argue that the UN has an undue focus on Israel, citing the large number of resolutions against Israel compared to other countries. Critics also argue that this focus reflects a bias in the UN against Israel, potentially fueled by the geopolitical interests of member states.

Impact

The resolutions concerning Israel have had varying degrees of impact. Some, like Resolution 242, have become cornerstones of subsequent peace negotiations. Others have been largely symbolic, reflecting the international community's stance on certain issues but having limited practical impact.

See Also

• Arab-Israeli conflict
• Israeli-Palestinian conflict
• History of Israel
• United Nations