A UN resolution is a decision or declaration that has been voted on by the 193 member states of the United Nations. Resolutions are based on proposals from the General Assembly or the Security Council, and usually require a simple majority to pass. However, if the resolution deals with “important questions” such as the maintenance of international peace and security, admission of new members to the United Nations, suspension of the rights and privileges of membership, operation of the trusteeship system, or budgetary issues, a two-thirds majority (twice as many yes votes as no votes) is required.
One of the most powerful – and controversial – tools at the United Nations’ disposal is its Security Council veto, which gives each of its five permanent members (the P5) the power to block any proposal from passing. The P5 have used the veto frequently, and in recent years, critics say their use of it has undermined the organization’s ability to address major humanitarian crises like civil wars and natural disasters, and to protect human rights.
The following is a timeline of some of the most important United Nations resolutions on Israel and Palestine since 1947. To learn more about a specific resolution, click on the year of its adoption. You can also browse all of the resolutions by number in the Resolutions by year section, or jump to a specific year using the links below. All of the resolutions include the text of the resolution, as well as the dates on which it was adopted and voted upon.
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