The United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly voted in favor of a resolution to reprimand Russia for its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
The resolution, supported by 141 of the assembly’s 193 members, demanded that Moscow end the fighting immediately and withdraw its military forces. Five countries – Russia, North Korea, Syria, Belarus and Eritrea – voted against the measure, while 35 countries abstained, including China, India, Pakistan, South Africa, Iraq and Iran. Israel voted in favor of the resolution after Foreign Minister Yair Lapid announced earlier this week that the Jewish state would stand on the “right side of history.”
The rare emergency General Assembly vote was called by the U.N. Security Council and is the first one since 1982. While General Assembly resolutions are non-binding, they do have political weight.
“This is an extraordinary moment,” U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Thomas-Greenfield said. “Now, at more than any other point in recent history, the United Nations is being challenged,” she said and made a plea: “Vote yes if you believe UN member states – including your own – have a right to sovereignty and territorial integrity. Vote yes if you believe Russia should be held to account for its actions.”
Israel has been walking a diplomatic tightrope between its support for Ukraine, while avoiding strong condemnation of Russia’s actions. Israel is especially concerned about maintaining its freedom of action in Syria against Iran and its terror proxies.
