This is a yearly resolution introduced at the UN General Assembly whose title is similar to: "Jerusalem."
Resolution in brief: Condemns Israel’s occupation of East Jerusalem as illegal, calls for a just and lasting solution that takes into account the legitimate concerns of both Israelis and Palestinians, and calls on all parties to respect the historic status quo in regard to holy places.
From 2000 to 2010 Canada voted "Yes" on this resolution, under Prime Ministers Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin (both Liberal), and for the first four years under Stephen Harper (Conservative). From 2011 to 2018, Canada voted "No" on the resolution, starting with Stephen Harper (Conservative) and continued by Justin Trudeau (Liberal). In 2019 and 2020, the resolution was never brought to a vote.
Around 2020 this resolution was bi-annualized, which means that it now only goes to a vote every other year.
The 2018 version of this resolution can be found in .pdf here, on the UN website here, or copied below.
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 30 November 2018 [without reference to a Main Committee (A/73/L.29 and A/73/L.29/Add.1)]
73/22. Jerusalem
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, in particular its provisions regarding the City of Jerusalem,
Recalling also its resolution 36/120 E of 10 December 1981 and all its subsequent relevant resolutions, including resolution 56/31 of 3 December 2001, in which it, inter alia, determined that all legislative and administrative measures and actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, which have altered or purported to alter the character and status of the Holy City of Jerusalem, in particular the so-called “Basic Law” on Jerusalem and the proclamation of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, were null and void and must be rescinded forthwith,
Recalling further the Security Council resolutions relevant to Jerusalem, including resolution 478 (1980) of 20 August 1980, in which the Council, inter alia, decided not to recognize the “Basic Law” on Jerusalem,
Recalling Security Council resolution 2334 (2016) of 23 December 2016, in which the Council affirmed that it would not recognize any changes to the 4 June 1967 lines, including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties through negotiations,
Recalling also the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences of the construction of a wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,[1] and recalling further its resolution ES‑10/15 of 20 July 2004,
Expressing its grave concern about any action taken by any body, governmental or non-governmental, in violation of the above-mentioned resolutions,
Expressing its grave concern also, in particular, about the continuation by Israel, the occupying Power, of illegal settlement activities, including measures regarding the so-called E‑1 plan, its construction of the wall in and around East Jerusalem, its restrictions on Palestinian access to and residence in East Jerusalem and the further isolation of the city from the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which are having a detrimental effect on the lives of Palestinians and could prejudge a final status agreement on Jerusalem,
Expressing its grave concern further about the continuing Israeli demolition of Palestinian homes and other civilian infrastructure in and around East Jerusalem, the revocation of residency rights, and the eviction and displacement of numerous Palestinian families from East Jerusalem neighbourhoods, including Bedouin families, as well as other acts of provocation and incitement, including by Israeli settlers, in the city, including desecration of mosques and churches,
Expressing its concern about the Israeli excavations undertaken in the Old City of Jerusalem, including in and around religious sites,
Expressing its grave concern, in particular, about tensions, provocations and incitement regarding the holy places of Jerusalem, including the Haram al‑Sharif, and urging restraint and respect for the sanctity of the holy sites by all sides,
Reaffirming that the international community, through the United Nations, has a legitimate interest in the question of the City of Jerusalem and in the protection of the unique spiritual, religious and cultural dimensions of the city, as foreseen in relevant United Nations resolutions on this matter,
Reaffirming also the importance of the City of Jerusalem for the three monotheistic religions,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the situation in the Middle East,[2]
- Reiterates its determination that any actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the Holy City of Jerusalem are illegal and therefore null and void and have no validity whatsoever, and calls upon Israel to immediately cease all such illegal and unilateral measures;
- Stresses that a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the question of the City of Jerusalem should take into account the legitimate concerns of both the Palestinian and Israeli sides and should include internationally guaranteed provisions to ensure the freedom of religion and of conscience of its inhabitants, as well as permanent, free and unhindered access to the holy places by people of all religions and nationalities;
- Also stresses the need for the parties to observe calm and restraint and to refrain from provocative actions, incitement and inflammatory rhetoric, especially in areas of religious and cultural sensitivity, and expresses its grave concern in particular about the recent series of negative incidents in East Jerusalem;
- Calls for respect for the historic status quo at the holy places of Jerusalem, including the Haram al‑Sharif, in word and in practice, and urges all sides to work immediately and cooperatively to defuse tensions and halt all provocations, incitement and violence at the holy sites in the City;
- Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its seventy-fourth session on the implementation of the present resolution.
43rd plenary meeting
30 November 2018
[1] See A/ES‑10/273 and A/ES‑10/273/Corr.1.
[2] A/73/322/Rev.1.