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STORY: UN / ISRAELI LEGISLATION UNRWA
TRT: 03:31
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 19 DECEMBER 2024, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
FILE - NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, United Nations headquarters
19 DECEMBER 2024, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, General Assembly
3. UPSOUND (English)
“The voting has been completed. Please stop the machine. The result of the vote is as follows, in favor 137, against 12, abstention 22. Draft resolution A/ 79 /L.28/Rev.1 is thereby adopted.”
4. Wide shot, ambassadors stepping to the stakeout area
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Andreas Kravik, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Norway:
“We're extremely satisfied with the result we have seen over the course now of several months, a catastrophic situation turn into a dystopian nightmare, as I described it in my statement. 45,000 Palestinians have been killed many more, probably, if you include those under the rubble. And we have an obligation as representatives of the international community to respond and to react, and that is what we did today with this resolution.”
6. Wide shot, ambassadors at the stakeout
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Andreas Kravik, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Norway:
“Israel is claiming that they have a right to do what they're doing. We are now seeking guidance from the highest court of the world, the ICJ, to punctuate this argument, we want clarity on the legal issues. We are determined. We are confident in our positions; we are clear eyed about Israel's obligations. Israel, under international law, has an obligation to provide assistance, to collaborate with all those entities, the UN humanitarian organizations and third states, and let them help those who are suffering. And we will get this now confirmed by the ICJ, and that will be very important.”
8. Wide shot, ambassadors at the stakeout
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Andreas Kravik, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Norway:
“This needs to be tackled by the court with urgency, so we're again hopeful that this will be pronounced on by the court within a few months. As for the statement provided by the US, of course, we take issue with that statement. We think the UN has been working, and especially, of course, UNRWA has been working with dedication, with determination, and actually with a whole host of risk involved. They I think UNRWA has lost over 248 staff members.”
10. Wide shot, ambassadors at the stakeout
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Andreas Kravik, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Norway:
“Well, I think in the in the short term, this is to be expected, I think that Israel would not abide by this resolution, but we see there's a lot of empirical data that supports the notion that, over time, countries tend to implement abide by their obligations under international law, try to take a different approach. We know that there are forces within Israel that want to take a different approach. We know that there are forces in other countries who have traditionally supported Israel that wants to take a different approach. We are hoping to give momentum, oxygen, leverage to those states, those stakeholders.”
12. Wide shot, ambassadors at the stakeout
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Andreas Kravik, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Norway:
“We are looking forward to collaborating with, with Trump, with, with the incoming US administration. We know that Trump has been clear that he wants to see the conflict in the Middle East resolve. He has said, clearly, and we have credibility in those statements, that he wants to be a president of peace. There's only one solution in the Middle East if we are to attain peace, and that is the two-state solution. Right now, we have a one-state non-solution. We need to translate that into a two-state solution, which gives security to Israel, which gives sovereignty to Palestine.”
14. Wide shot, end of the press encounter
The General Assembly approved a resolution requesting an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice regarding Israel's responsibilities to facilitate aid to Palestinians provided by states and international organizations.
Drafted by Norway, the resolution passed with 137 votes in favor in the 193-member assembly. Israel, the United States, and 10 other nations opposed the measure, while 22 countries abstained.
Speaking to reporters after the vote, the pen-holder representative, Andreas Kravik, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway said, “We’re extremely satisfied with the result we have seen.”
Describing the situation in Palestine as a “catastrophic” crisis that has devolved into a “dystopian nightmare,” he cited a death toll of 45,000 Palestinians and emphasized the international community's obligation to respond. “That is what we did today with this resolution,” he added.
Kravik also said, “Israel is claiming that they have a right to do what they’re doing. We are now seeking guidance from the highest court of the world, the ICJ, to punctuate this argument. Israel, under international law, has an obligation to provide assistance, to collaborate with all those entities, the UN humanitarian organizations, and third states, and let them help those who are suffering.”
Kravik called for urgency in the ICJ’s deliberations, “This needs to be tackled by the court with urgency. We’re hopeful that this will be pronounced on by the court within a few months,” he stated.
He also addressed criticisms from the United States, emphasizing the dedication of UN humanitarian organizations, particularly the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), which has lost “over 248 staff members” in the line of duty.
Acknowledging potential challenges to enforcing the resolution, Kravik said, “In the short term, this is to be expected. Israel would not abide by this resolution. But there’s a lot of empirical data that supports the notion that, over time, countries tend to implement and abide by their obligations under international law.” He expressed hope for a shift in approach, both within Israel and among its traditional allies, adding, “We are hoping to give momentum, oxygen, leverage to those states, those stakeholders.”
Kravik also spoke about the incoming US administration, expressing optimism about collaboration. “We are looking forward to collaborating with Trump, with the incoming US administration. We know that Trump has been clear that he wants to see the conflict in the Middle East resolved.
He has said clearly that he wants to be a president of peace,” Kravik noted. He stressed that a two-state solution remains the only viable path to peace, “Right now, we have a one-state non-solution. We need to translate that into a two-state solution, which gives security to Israel, which gives sovereignty to Palestine.”
