Palestine hails UN resolution confirming sovereignty over natural resources

By Qais Abu Samra

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) - Palestine on Thursday welcomed a UN vote in favor of a resolution affirming its right to sovereignty over its natural resources.

"We welcome the UN resolution in the General Assembly on the rights of the Palestinians to their natural resources in their homeland," said a statement by Hussein Al-Sheikh, the secretary of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization.

The top diplomat noted that the resolution was one of many adopted annually by the UN that were in the interests of the Palestinian people.

The official Palestinian News Agency, Wafa, reported that the UN General Assembly "adopted by an overwhelming majority the resolution of the permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people over their natural resources."

A total of 159 countries on Thursday voted in favor of the resolution, which 10 nations opposed, according to the agency, adding that eight countries had abstained.

* Ikram Imane Kouachi contributed to this report