United Nations, May 07: The UN General Assembly overwhelming approved a resolution affirming Palestinians' right to sovereignty over the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem. Israel said the measure "continues the recipe of failure" to bring peace to the region.

The Assembly voted 140-6, with 11 abstentions, yesterday following intense negotiations that brought substantial changes to the text and brought European Union countries on board, despite strong objections from Israel and the United States. The resolution, which reflects international opinion but isn't legally binding, affirms in accordance with UN resolutions and principles of international law "that the Palestinian people have the right to self-determination and to sovereignty over their territory."

The resolution put the General Assembly on record as affirming "that the status of the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, remains one of military occupation." Bureau Report