Israel and International Law
Documentation of UN resolutions and International Court of Justice rulings concerning Israel.
United Nations Resolutions and International Court Rulings
Israel has been the subject of more UN resolutions than any other country. This section documents key resolutions and international court decisions.
Statistics Overview
UN General Assembly (1946-2024): – From 2015-2024: 173 resolutions against Israel vs. 80 against all other countries combined – 2024: 17 of 23 country-critical resolutions (74%) targeted Israel – 2023: 14 resolutions against Israel vs. 7 against rest of world combined
UN Human Rights Council (2006-2024): – 112 resolutions against Israel – 45 against Syria – 16 against Iran – 11 against Russia
Key Security Council Resolutions
Post-1948 War
| Resolution | Year | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| 62 | 1948 | Called for ceasefire in Arab-Israeli War |
| 73 | 1949 | Armistice agreements |
Post-1967 War (Six-Day War)
| Resolution | Year | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| 242 | 1967 | Landmark resolution calling for withdrawal from territories occupied in 1967; acknowledgment of sovereignty of all states in the area; just settlement of refugee problem |
| 338 | 1973 | Called for ceasefire in Yom Kippur War; implementation of Resolution 242 |
Settlements Resolutions
| Resolution | Year | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| 446 | 1979 | Determined Israeli settlements are “serious obstruction” to peace; called on Israel to abide by Fourth Geneva Convention |
| 452 | 1979 | Called on Israel to cease building settlements in occupied territories |
| 465 | 1980 | Demanded Israel stop planning and construction of settlements; called for dismantling existing settlements |
| 2334 | 2016 | Reaffirmed settlements have “no legal validity”; constitute “flagrant violation” of international law (US abstained, allowing passage) |
Jerusalem Resolutions
| Resolution | Year | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| 476 | 1980 | Declared all measures altering status of Jerusalem “null and void” |
| 478 | 1980 | Censured Israel's “Basic Law” annexing Jerusalem as violation of international law; called on states to withdraw diplomatic missions from Jerusalem |
Military Operations
| Resolution | Year | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| 487 | 1981 | Condemned Operation Opera (bombing of Iraqi reactor) |
| 573 | 1985 | Condemned Tunis Raid on PLO headquarters |
| 904 | 1994 | Condemned Cave of the Patriarchs massacre (29 Palestinians killed by Israeli settler); called for disarming settlers |
| 1701 | 2006 | Called for ceasefire in Lebanon War; established enhanced UNIFIL |
International Court of Justice (ICJ) Rulings
Advisory Opinion on the Wall (2004)
- ICJ ruled Israel's separation barrier in the West Bank violates international law
- Found the wall's route through occupied territory illegal
- Called for dismantling sections built on occupied land
- Israel rejected the opinion and continued construction
Advisory Opinion on the Occupation (July 2024)
- ICJ ruled Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories is unlawful
- Found Israeli settlements violate international law
- Stated Israel has obligation to end its presence “as rapidly as possible”
- Called on all states not to recognize the occupation as legal
South Africa v. Israel – Genocide Case (2024-ongoing)
- South Africa filed case alleging Israel violating Genocide Convention in Gaza
- January 2024: ICJ issued provisional measures:
- Found it “plausible” Israel's acts could violate Genocide Convention
- Ordered Israel to prevent genocidal acts
- Ordered Israel to ensure humanitarian aid access
- Ordered preservation of evidence
- February 2024: Human Rights Watch reported Israel not complying with ICJ order
- Case ongoing as of 2026
Notable General Assembly Resolutions
| Resolution | Year | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| 194 | 1948 | Right of return for Palestinian refugees |
| 3379 | 1975 | Declared Zionism “a form of racism” (revoked 1991) |
| 67/19 | 2012 | Upgraded Palestine to non-member observer state |
| ES-10/L.22 | 2017 | Declared US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital “null and void” (128-9 vote) |
| ES-10/21 | 2023 | Called for humanitarian truce in Gaza |
| ES-10/22 | 2024 | Demanded immediate ceasefire in Gaza |
Pattern of Non-Compliance
Israel has not implemented numerous UN Security Council resolutions, including: – Has not withdrawn from territories occupied in 1967 – Has expanded rather than dismantled settlements – Has not reversed annexation measures in Jerusalem – Did not dismantle the separation barrier as called for by ICJ
The United States has vetoed over 50 UN Security Council resolutions critical of Israel since 1972, shielding Israel from further binding resolutions.