The overwhelming UN vote in favor of a resolution affirming Palestinian sovereignty over their natural resources proves the fact that Israel and those who support it are isolated, said Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Riyad al-Maliki on Saturday.

Al-Maliki told the official Voice of Palestine radio that the resolution reaffirms that Israel is violating international law by destroying, exploiting and/or disposing of the Palestinian natural resources, and urged the international community to hold Israel to account for these illegal practices. 

Some 157 UN member states voted on Thursday in favor of a resolution affirming Palestinian sovereignty over their natural resources across Israeli-occupied territories.

Seven countries – Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau and the United States – voted against the motion, with 14 abstentions.

Al-Maliki praised the vote and called on Israel, the occupying power, to “cease the exploitation, damage, cause of loss or depletion and endangerment of the natural resources of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.

He also called on the international community to "work to compel the occupation to implement international resolutions and to ensure the freedom of the Palestinian people to benefit from their natural resources and their right to demand compensation for exploiting, damaging, losing, depleting or endangering their natural resources.”