The result of a vote on the legal consequences of Israel's actions in the Palestinian territories is shown at the United Nations Headquarters, New York, on September 18. AFP
The result of a vote on the legal consequences of Israel's actions in the Palestinian territories is shown at the United Nations Headquarters, New York, on September 18. AFP
The result of a vote on the legal consequences of Israel's actions in the Palestinian territories is shown at the United Nations Headquarters, New York, on September 18. AFP
The result of a vote on the legal consequences of Israel's actions in the Palestinian territories is shown at the United Nations Headquarters, New York, on September 18. AFP

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MENA

Fourteen countries oppose UN resolution to end Israel's occupation of Palestine

A total of 124 states voted for Israel to withdraw forces and cease settlement activity in the occupied West Bank

Nada AlTaher
Nada AlTaher

September 19, 2024

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A UN General Assembly resolution calling on Israel to end its illegal occupation of Palestine within a year was passed overwhelmingly on Wednesday. Israel’s closest ally, the US, was among the opposing nations.

While 124 countries voted in favour, 14 countries opposed the resolution and 43 abstained.

The resolution urged Israel to "comply with international law and withdraw its military forces, immediately cease all new settlement activity, evacuate all settlers from occupied land, and dismantle parts of the separation wall it constructed inside the occupied West Bank". It also demanded Israel return land and other assets it has seized since 1967.

UN General Assembly meets on Gaza. Image shows the voting board from Wednesday's resolution on Palestine. Photo: United Nations
UN General Assembly meets on Gaza. Image shows the voting board from Wednesday's resolution on Palestine. Photo: United Nations

Apart from the US, Argentina, Hungary and Paraguay also voted against the resolution. Other opposers were: Oceania's Palau, Micronesia, Nauru, Fiji, Tonga, Tuvalu and Papua New Guinea, East Africa's Malawi and Europe's Czechia.

Notably, South America's Argentina has had a long-standing pro-Palestine policy, which it broke off from in a May vote on recognising Palestinian as a state, before designating Hamas a terrorist group two months later.

Argentina's President Javier Milei had been aligning his country closer with Israel and the US in recent months, even visiting Jerusalem in February and making more public his religious views after converting to Judaism three years ago.

Hungary's position on Israel remained unchanged. It has long been a supporter and ally of Israel, and is the only EU member state to not have called on Israel to stop its incursion into Rafah in May, in the continuing war in Gaza, as part of a joint declaration among other EU member states.

More than 41,200 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's war in Gaza, and 95,550 were wounded with at least 10,000 more missing and believed to be under rubble.

Paraguay has strong trade ties with Israel but a complicated relationship with it.

In 2018, President Horacio Cartes said he would relocate his country's embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem – effectively recognising the city as Israel's capital, following the footsteps of Donald Trump, who made the same controversial move.

Paraguay's decision was eventually reversed under new president Mario Abdo Benitez and the embassy was moved back to Tel Aviv, prompting anger from Israel, which closed its embassy in Paraguay.

Six years later, Paraguay’s current President Santiago Peña expressed his support for Israel, saying he will move his embassy to Jerusalem and in turn attended the inauguration of Israel's embassy in the capital Asuncion on Wednesday – the day of the UN vote – where his envoy voted against the resolution to show further support to Israel.

Ahead of the vote, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said the kingdom condemns "the crimes of the Israeli occupation authority against the Palestinian people". The Crown Prince said the kingdom will not establish diplomatic ties with Israel without an independent Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital.

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
  • Drones
  • Animals
  • Fireworks/ flares
  • Radios or power banks
  • Laser pointers
  • Glass
  • Selfie sticks/ umbrellas
  • Sharp objects
  • Political flags or banners
  • Bikes, skateboards or scooters
UAE currency
Updated: September 19, 2024, 11:23 AM
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