Israel's Lapid calls for halting UN vote for ICJ opinion on occupation

By Abdelraouf Arnaout

JERUSALEM (AA) – Outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid on Tuesday urged world leaders to prevent a vote at the UN General Assembly to request an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories.

In a statement, Lapid’s office said he sent letters to leaders of more than 50 countries to urge them to dissuade the Palestinian Authority from moving ahead with the vote.

The Israeli premier said in the letter that if the vote takes place, then, he expects from "Israel's friends" to vote against the decision.

On Nov. 11, the Fourth Committee of the UN General Assembly adopted a draft Palestinian resolution requesting an ICJ advisory opinion on Israel's occupation of Palestinian lands since 1967.

The draft resolution was approved by 98 countries, while 17 countries rejected it.

The voting is expected to take place early December at the UN General Assembly before being referred to the ICJ.

Writing by Ahmed Asmar