Palestinian Resource Sovereignty: India Among 151 Countries Backing UN Committee Resolution

The news

India voted in favour of a United Nations resolution on permanent sovereignty over natural resources in occupied Palestinian territory and the occupied Syrian Golan, breaking with the United States and Israel. The vote took place in the UN General Assembly’s Second Committee on 11 November 2026. The resolution, sponsored by the Group of 77 and China and presented by Uruguay, was backed by 151 countries. Seven countries — the United States, Israel, Colombia, Paraguay, Palau, Nauru and Micronesia — voted against it, and 11 countries abstained.

The resolution asserts that Palestinian people, including those in East Jerusalem, and the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan have permanent sovereignty over their land, water and energy resources. It calls on Israel to stop activities that exploit, damage or degrade these resources. The text also recognises the right of Palestinians to claim compensation for damage to their natural resources and demands protection of water pipelines, sewage networks and electricity infrastructure. The resolution now moves from the Second Committee to the full General Assembly for further consideration; committee approval is not a final plenary vote.

What is the Group of 77 and when did it form?

The Group of 77 is a coalition of developing countries at the United Nations that promotes collective economic interests and strengthens joint negotiating capacity. It was established on 15 June 1964 by seventy-seven countries at the end of the first session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in Geneva. The group now includes more than 130 member states but retains its original name. It often sponsors resolutions on economic and social issues, including those concerning natural resource sovereignty.

How has India balanced ties with Israel and Palestine?

India recognised the Palestine Liberation Organization as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people in 1974 and recognised Palestine as an independent state in 1988. Its official policy supports a sovereign, independent and viable Palestinian state living peacefully alongside Israel within secure and recognised borders — the two-state solution. At the same time, India has strengthened ties with Israel in defence, technology, agriculture and trade. Prime Minister Narendra Modi became the first Indian prime minister to visit Palestine in February 2018, reflecting India’s effort to maintain relations with both sides.

What did the resolution achieve and what are its limits?

The resolution links natural-resource sovereignty to civilian life and environmental protection. It calls for an end to resource exploitation and damage, protection of water, sewage and electricity infrastructure, and an end to waste dumping in occupied areas. It also recognises Palestinians’ right to seek compensation for damage to their natural resources. However, General Assembly resolutions of this kind generally carry political and diplomatic significance rather than directly imposing sanctions or military action. The United States and Israel described the text as unbalanced or biased.