5/15/2024–|Last updated: 5/15/202407:47 PM (Mecca time)
Today, Wednesday, the Israeli government unanimously rejected a resolution issued by the United Nations General Assembly 5 days ago encouraging recognition of the Palestinian state and supporting granting Palestine full membership in the United Nations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “We will not allow them to establish a terrorist state through which they can further attack us, and no one will prevent us from exercising our fundamental right to defend ourselves, neither the United Nations General Assembly nor any other body.”
According to Netanyahu’s office, the government decided to reject the United Nations General Assembly’s resolution issued on May 10 to lift the status of the Palestinian Authority and grant it additional privileges, which are usually reserved for UN member states.
He added, “Nothing in the United Nations General Assembly resolution will change the status of the territories in question, and nothing in it grants any right, or detracts from any rights of the State of Israel and the Jewish people in the Land of Israel, and will not form a basis for future negotiations, nor does it provide a peaceful solution.”
The General Assembly adopted – with a majority of 143 votes, 9 against, and 25 abstentions – a resolution supporting Palestine’s application for full membership in the United Nations, and recommending that the Security Council reconsider the application.
The resolution also identified ways to implement additional rights and privileges related to Palestine’s participation in the United Nations. He affirmed the General Assembly’s conviction that the State of Palestine is fully qualified for membership in the international organization in accordance with its Charter, and indicates widespread support from member states for accepting Palestine as a member.
Last April, the United States used its veto in the Security Council against an Algerian draft resolution recommending that the General Assembly accept Palestine as a UN member. 12 members supported it, while Switzerland and Britain abstained from voting.
It is noteworthy that the State of Palestine is a member and has observer status in the United Nations, in accordance with the resolution of the Organization’s General Assembly on November 29, 2012.