The United Nations General Assembly approved Palestine's request for the issuance of a legal ruling by the International Court of Justice regarding the legal nature of Israel's occupation of the Palestinian land with a majority of votes. Palestinian officials have considered this action of the United Nations as a "reflection of the victory of Palestinian diplomacy".

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA): The United Nations General Assembly, yesterday (Saturday, December 31), approved a motion that asks the International Court of Justice (The Hague Court) about the legal consequences of violating the right to self-determination of the nation. Palestine, long-term occupation, settlements and Israel's actions to change the communal situation in the occupied Jerusalem.
 
The Hague-based World Court, the highest court of the United Nations, hears disputes between governments. Its rulings are binding, although it has no power to enforce them.
 
This request was raised in a resolution that was approved in the general assembly with 87 votes in favor. Israel, the United States and 24 other members voted against and 53 members abstained.
 
Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, said before the vote: "No international body can decide on the occupation of Jews in their own land." He called the United Nations a corrupt and political institution.
 
Former Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid also called on world leaders last month to oppose this move, calling it "for the benefit of extremists".
 
The United Nations General Assembly asked the World Court to consider the legal consequences of cases such as "occupation, settlement and annexation of these lands to Israel", related discriminatory laws and measures and the impact of these policies and measures "on the legal status of the occupation" and its consequences for all countries and the United Nations should comment.
 
The International Court of Justice last reviewed the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians in 2004 and ruled that Israel's barrier wall was illegal. Israel rejected the ruling and accused the court of being politically motivated.
 
At the same time, the Palestinians welcomed this result of the votes of the United Nations General Assembly and called it a victory.
 
This vote can be a challenge for Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, who on Thursday, 8 Jedi at the head of a radical right-wing government that supports the annexation of occupied West Bank lands.
 
Mahmoud Abbas, the head of the Palestinian Authority, said: "The time has come for Israel to be a law-abiding state and be accountable for its ongoing crimes against our people."
 
Israeli officials have not yet commented on the vote. Only Gilad Erdan, the Israeli envoy to the United Nations, condemned it before the vote took place on Friday.
 
Senior Palestinian official Hussein al-Sheikh wrote on Twitter that this vote "reflects the victory of Palestinian diplomacy."