BERLIN

Germany on Thursday defended its decision to sit out voting on a historic UN General Assembly resolution, which urged Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territories within a year.

“The resolution tabled (proposed) yesterday went beyond the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on a number of important points,” said the German Foreign Ministry in a statement.

“It sets an unrealistic deadline for ending the occupation and disregards the fact that direct negotiations between the parties are required in order to achieve a sustainable solution,” it said.

The resolution does not sufficiently take into account Israel’s right to self-defense as it does not mention its legitimate security interests, it added.

On Wednesday, the UN General Assembly adopted a landmark resolution with the support of 124 countries, which urged Israel to end its unlawful presence in the Palestinian territories, stop establishing new settlements, and evacuate all Israeli settlers from the occupied territories.

The nonbinding resolution was adopted by a two-thirds majority, with 124 countries voting in support, 14 against and 43 abstentions. Germany, a staunch ally of Israel, was among the countries that abstained from the vote.

Although Germany did not support the resolution, the ministry reiterated that it respects the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Israel’s policies on the occupied Palestinian territories, which was taken as a reference document by the UN General Assembly.

Published two months ago, the ICJ’s advisory opinion stated that Israel’s continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territories was “unlawful” and that Israel is obliged to bring it to an end as rapidly as possible.

The ministry said Berlin remains committed to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and views Israel’s current settlement policy as an obstacle to a political settlement.

“A negotiated two-state solution is the only way to ensure lasting peace in the Middle East and therefore remains a firm objective of Germany’s foreign policy,” it said.

“This is the only way to safeguard Israel’s legitimate security interests, and it is the only way for Palestinians to be able to live in security and dignity in their own state,” it added.

Germany has been a staunch ally of Israel, and government officials have repeatedly said the country bears special responsibility for Israel’s security due to its Nazi past.