A United Nations resolution is a document that contains the decisions made by a group of representatives from all member countries at the UN. The body uses resolutions to encourage peace and avert war between its members. It does this by promoting economic and social development to eradicate poverty and other issues that may cause conflict between nations. It also provides a forum for countries to interact with one another in order to help them solve their differences in harmony. The resolutions can be substantive or procedural. Substantive resolutions deal with the what and why of an issue while procedural ones focus on the how of the matter.
Resolution 242 called for the Secretary General to appoint a special envoy to the Middle East to try to broker a permanent peace between Israel, Jordan, and Egypt. The envoy, Gunnar Jarring of Sweden, began his mission in December 1967. He failed to achieve a peace agreement and left his post in early 1973 because of lack of progress, especially Israeli refusals to withdraw from all of southern Lebanon.
The resolution demanded that Israel withdraw from all of the occupied territories, and called for Palestinians to be allowed to return to their homes at the earliest practicable date. It further stated that compensation should be paid for property that cannot be returned due to damage or loss.
The resolution reaffirmed the Council’s desire to see Iran cease its nuclear proliferation activities and imposed new sanctions against both Iran and individuals who are helping it pursue these goals. The sanctions required states to report any unauthorized activities to the 1737 Committee and also expanded the list of individuals that could be subjected to frozen funds, financial assets, and economic resources.
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