Current Affairs: Passage of the Week - 15 September 2025 | Current Affairs & General Knowledge - CLAT PDF Download

Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.
India on Friday backed a resolution in the UN General Assembly supporting the 'New York Declaration' on resolving the Palestine issue through peaceful means and advancing the two-state solution.
The resolution, introduced by France, was adopted with 142 votes in favour, 10 against, and 12 abstentions. The US, Israel, Argentina and Hungary were among the countries that opposed it.
The text, formally titled 'Endorsement of the New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution', had been circulated at a high-level international conference in July at the UN headquarters, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia.
According to the declaration, leaders "agreed to take collective action to end the war in Gaza, to achieve a just, peaceful and lasting settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on the effective implementation of the two-state solution, and to build a better future for Palestinians, Israelis and all peoples of the region."
It called on Israel’s leadership to issue a clear public commitment to the two-state solution, including recognition of a sovereign and viable Palestinian state.
It also urged Israel to "immediately end violence and incitement against Palestinians, to immediately halt all settlement, land grabs and annexation activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, publicly renounce any annexation project or settlement policy, and put an end to settlers’ violence."
The declaration reaffirmed "support for the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination."
"Recent developments have highlighted, once again, and more than ever, the terrifying human toll and the grave implications for regional and international peace and security of the persistence of the Middle East conflict," it said.
"Absent decisive measures towards the two-state solution and robust international guarantees, the conflict will deepen and regional peace will remain elusive," it added.
Stressing that "the war in Gaza must end now," the declaration noted that "Gaza is an integral part of a Palestinian State and must be unified with the West Bank. There must be no occupation, siege, territorial reduction, or forced displacement."
[Excerpt from TOI "India Backs UN Resolution on Palestine Two-State Solution" Dated 15/09/25]

Q1: India’s vote in favour of the UNGA resolution endorsing the New York Declaration can be most closely associated with which principle of international law?
(a) The principle of sovereign equality of states
(b) The right of peoples to self-determination
(c) The principle of non-intervention in domestic affairs
(d) The doctrine of humanitarian intervention

View Answer  

Ans: (b)
Sol: The resolution and India’s support highlight Palestinian self-determination, which is a core principle of international law.

Q2: If the New York Declaration demands that Israel halt settlement activities in East Jerusalem, it directly engages with which key aspect of international law?
(a) Territorial integrity and non-aggression
(b) Protection of minority rights
(c) Prohibition on acquisition of territory by force
(d) Collective security under the UN Charter

View Answer  

Ans: (c)
Sol: The settlement and annexation issue relates to the prohibition on acquiring territory by force, a jus cogens norm.

Q3: India’s support for the resolution, despite close ties with both Israel and Palestine, reflects which type of foreign policy approach?
(a) Realpolitik with military alignment
(b) Neutrality under the Non-Aligned Movement
(c) Strategic balancing between conflicting parties
(d) Isolationism in regional conflicts

View Answer  

Ans: (c)
Sol: India maintains a balanced diplomatic approach, supporting Palestine’s rights while keeping relations with Israel.

Q4: Ten nations, including the US and Israel, opposed the resolution citing security concerns. This reflects which principle often used in international relations?
(a) National sovereignty outweighs international consensus
(b) Collective responsibility for humanitarian protection
(c) Security exceptionalism over universal rights
(d) Balance of power in regional disputes

View Answer  

Ans: (c)
Sol: Opposition based on security concerns indicates prioritising security exceptionalism over broader rights-based consensus.

Q5: The global support for the New York Declaration demonstrates what shift in international diplomacy?
(a) Decline of multilateralism in conflict resolution
(b) Consolidation of unilateral state actions
(c) Renewed consensus around two-state framework
(d) Emergence of non-state actors as mediators

View Answer  

Ans: (c)
Sol: With 142 countries supporting, the vote signals revived consensus on the two-state solution as the preferred peace framework.

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