Live updates: UN General Assembly votes to recognize Palestine on 60th anniversary of UNGA resolution
The United Nations General Assembly held a full day this week to debate one resolution, but decided that it should recognize Israel’s existence as a “Jewish state” instead of “the only democracy in the Middle East” which it previously stated.
The resolution passed by more than 128 countries with 14 votes for it and 14 against was a first for the 193 member UN to recognize Israel on a country not already in the State of Palestine.
The decision was made after President of the General Assembly, Elie Wiesel asked the vote to recognize to Palestine “the only democracy in the region,” to not recognize “a Jewish state” and to “end the occupation…”
In Israel, there was an outpouring of joy over this historic recognition. From right-wing Knesset members to those with a left-wing view, from religious Jews to secular Jews, the sentiment was similar.
The first time Israel was recognized by the UN was in December 1947 with the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopting Resolution 181 creating the State of Israel which it would remain until Israel’s creation.
It was after Israel’s declaration of unilateral independence from Britain in 1948, where the U.N. became irrelevant and Israel became a sovereign state.
In this post, we will highlight some of Israel’s accomplishments throughout its history while highlighting some of the issues that Israel continues to face today. It will hopefully provide some perspective as to where Israel will be in the next 50 years.
What was Israel at the time?
Israel’s declaration of independence was the only war Israel won in its history in the entire world. In 1948, it won the only war Israel ever won.
The war was on the eve of the creation of Israel when it was declared. Although the war was fought and won by the Arab armies of Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon they failed to drive out the Jewish state.
This war had a far-reaching impact on every aspect of the Middle East, including the creation of the United Nations. The UN General Assembly was created on 3 October of that year to promote international cooperation on humanitarian causes, global security, and disarmament.
It
