A United Nations resolution is a decision adopted by the Security Council. According to Article 25 of the UN Charter, all members are bound to “accept and carry out” Security Council decisions.
Resolutions typically begin with preambular sections that establish the context of the issue and contain definitions, whereas the operative clauses set out the resolution’s main text. Resolutions may also include non-binding presidential statements.
This resolution, passed near the end of Israel’s 1978 invasion of southern Lebanon (known as Operation Litani), called for a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces. It influenced the Madrid Conference the following year, which would mark the first major face-to-face talks in the long-running conflict.
In addition to calling for an immediate ceasefire, this resolution calls for a comprehensive Middle East peace process that “respects the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of every State in the region.” It is widely interpreted as applying to both Israel and the Palestinians.
The resolution draws a false equivalence between Israel and Hamas, undermining diplomatic efforts to reach a lasting ceasefire. It also rewards Iran for its terrorist proxies, emboldening them to continue fomenting instability in the region. We urge the Security Council to reject this resolution.