The resolution does not grant Palestine full UN membership, but recognizes it as qualified to join and expands its rights.
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) supported the Palestinian attempt to become a full member of the UN by recognizing it as qualified for membership and recommending that the UN Security Council “reconsider the matter favorably “.
Friday’s vote by the 193 members of the UNGA constitutes a global survey of support for the Palestinian attempt to become a full member of the UN – a move that would effectively recognize a Palestinian state – after the United States did so. vetoed them at the UN Security Council last month. .
The assembly adopted a resolution Friday with 143 votes in favor and nine against – including the United States and Israel – while 25 countries abstained. It does not give the Palestinians full membership in the UN, but simply recognizes them as qualified to join.
The UNGA resolution “determines that the State of Palestine…should therefore be admitted to membership” and it “recommends that the Security Council reconsider the matter favorably.”
Although the UNGA alone cannot grant full UN membership, Friday’s draft resolution will grant Palestinians certain additional rights and privileges starting in September 2024 – such as a seat among the members of the UNGA. UN in the meeting room – but he will not grant them voting rights in the Assembly. body.
Reporting from UN headquarters in New York, Tel Aviv Tribune’s Gabriel Elizondo said it was significant that so many countries voted in favor of the resolution.
“What we were hearing before the vote was maybe between 120 and 130 – on the high end, 140. The fact that they got 143 meets and exceeds all expectations. It was passed by an overwhelming majority,” he said.
“But they still only have observer status.”
The Palestinian push for full UN membership comes seven months after the start of a war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and as Israel expands its illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Before the vote, Riyad Mansour, Palestine’s ambassador to the UN, told the UNGA that “voting ‘Yes’ is the right thing to do and I can assure you that you and your country will be proud to to have defended freedom in the years to come. , justice and peace in these darkest hours.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the adoption of the resolution showed that the world defended the rights and freedoms of the Palestinian people and opposed the Israeli occupation.
“I think, from a strategic point of view, it (the vote) will not make any difference to Gaza,” said Marwan Bishara, Tel Aviv Tribune’s senior political analyst.
“It’s much more symbolic. This is an important step for Palestine to achieve status on the world stage.
Full result of the improvement vote @Palestine_UNUN membership in the UN. pic.twitter.com/ejLHzz4P4M
– Rami Ayari (@Raminho) May 10, 2024
Meanwhile, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, condemned the vote and said the UN was now welcoming a “terrorist state” into its ranks.
“The United Nations was founded with the mission of ensuring that such tyranny (by the Nazis) never rears its ugly head again,” he said.
“Today you are about to do the exact opposite and promote the creation of a Palestinian terrorist state, to be led by the Hitler of our time. »
An application for full UN membership must first be approved by the 15-member Security Council and then by the UNGA. If the measure is voted on again by the Council, it risks experiencing the same fate: an American veto.
Bishara said positions toward the United States likely affected Friday’s vote.
“I think a lot of the votes (for) were as much against the United States as they were for Palestine, and I think a lot of votes were abstaining under pressure from the United States. »
