UN General Assembly Shows Strong Support for Palestinian Membership Bid

A United Nations resolution supporting Palestinian membership was overwhelmingly passed on Friday. This resolution also granted new privileges to the Palestinian Authority, recognizing it as a non-member observer state.

The resolution received a strong majority with 143 votes in favor. Twenty-five countries abstained from voting, while nine nations voted against the text. These nations included Czechia, Hungary, Argentina, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Israel, and the United States.

The United Arab Emirates has proposed a text urging the UN Security Council to review Palestinian membership favorably. The text states that the State of Palestine meets the qualifications for UN membership.

With strong emotions in the air on Friday, over 100 national representatives requested to address the resolution. Most of them expressed their unwavering support for Palestinian statehood, regardless of their voting decision.

Palestinian Ambassador to the United Nations Riyad Mansour at the UN in New York City on May 10, 2024.

Palestinian Ambassador to the United Nations Riyad Mansour at the UN in New York City on May 10, 2024.

Eduardo Munoz/Reuters

In his speech before the vote, Palestinian ambassador Riyad Mansour expressed deep concern for the Palestinians living in war-torn Gaza. He mentioned the 1.4 million residents of Rafah who fear for their lives amidst Israeli threats of a major attack on their densely populated city in southern Gaza.

Mansour also expressed gratitude towards protesters at US universities and around the world who have shown solidarity against the Israel-Hamas conflict. He spoke of the Palestinian flag proudly waving in Palestine and globally, including on the campus of Columbia University. The flag has become a symbol of freedom and justice for those who cannot ignore the injustice faced by the Palestinian people.

Israel's Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, wasted no time in criticizing the passing of the resolution. He called it an "absurd decision" that shows the UN's bias and praises Hamas for their actions on October 7. According to Katz, the UN's message to our troubled region is that violence is rewarded. He also believes that upgrading the status of Palestinians in the UN is a reward for Hamas terrorists following their attack, which he described as the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.

New rights and privileges

While a General Assembly vote cannot confer UN membership, the approved resolution does endow the Palestinian Authority with new procedural rights and privileges.

Only member states have the right to vote in the meeting. However, the Palestinian Authority can now be seated among member states in alphabetical order. They can also submit and introduce proposals and amendments, as well as co-sponsor proposals and amendments.

The United Nations Security Council meets on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, at UN headquarters in New York City on April 18, 2024. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday painted a dark picture of the situation in the Middle East, warning that spiraling tensions over the war in Gaza and Iran's attack on Israel could devolve into a "full-scale regional conflict." (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP)

The United Nations Security Council gathered at UN headquarters in New York City on April 18, 2024, to discuss the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian issue. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concerns about the escalating tensions in the region. He specifically highlighted the conflict in Gaza and Iran's recent attack on Israel, warning that these events could potentially lead to a larger regional conflict. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP)

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The Palestinian Authority will now request full membership from the Security Council, as stated by Mansour. Within the UN, it can also make statements, provide explanations for votes, and respond on behalf of a group. Additionally, it has the authority to propose items for a vote and suggest agenda items for the UNGA.

The US has indicated that it will probably veto the request in the Security Council, similar to its veto of a previous Palestinian membership request in April.

After the general assembly vote on Friday, US Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations Robert Wood criticized the resolution text as "unproductive." He stated that achieving a lasting peace in the Middle East would involve combining the two-state solution with other factors.

He stated that Gaza should not be used for terrorism and emphasized the importance of preventing Israel from reoccupying Gaza or reducing its territory.

Wood also expressed his belief that the United Nations is not the appropriate platform for discussing Palestinian statehood. He argued that the best way for the Palestinian people to achieve statehood and UN membership is through direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian authority.

Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan at the UN headquarters in New York City on May 10, 2024.

Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan at the UN headquarters in New York City on May 10, 2024.

Israel's ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, gave a passionate speech before the assembly before the voting took place. He accused those in support of the resolution of trying to promote the creation of a Palestinian terror state. Erdan also tore apart a section of the UN charter while standing at the organization's famous podium in New York.

Erdan held up a small paper shredder and said, "This is your mirror so that you can see exactly what you are inflicting upon the UN charter with this destructive vote."

UN spokesman Farhan Haq later defended the charter, stating, "This is an organization that is premised on respect for the UN charter and all of the member states have pledged to uphold the UN charter. We expect them to fulfill that obligation."

Haq emphasized that as long as the organization is still around, the charter will remain in effect.

In September 2011, the Palestinian Authority was unsuccessful in obtaining UN recognition as an independent member state. However, a year later, the UN made the decision to upgrade the Palestinian Authority's status from "non-member observer entity" to "non-member observer state," a status similar to that of the Vatican.

This is a developing story. It will be updated…

Editor's P/S:

The resolution passed by the United Nations to recognize the Palestinian Authority as a non-member observer state is a significant step towards recognizing their right to self-determination and statehood. The strong majority vote in favor of the resolution reflects the international community's growing support for the Palestinian cause and their desire for a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.

However, the opposition from a small number of countries, including the United States and Israel, highlights the ongoing complexities and challenges in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The concerns raised by these countries, particularly regarding the potential implications for the security of Israel, need to be addressed through continued dialogue and negotiations. It is crucial for all parties involved to work together to find a mutually acceptable solution that respects the rights and aspirations of both Palestinians and Israelis.