The United States prevented a United Nations Security Council resolution that would give Palestine full membership from passing on Thursday. Twelve members supported the resolution, but the United States used its veto power to block it. Two countries chose to abstain from voting.
The US State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel announced on Thursday that the US would be voting against the resolution. He stated that the US has consistently made it clear that premature actions in New York, even with good intentions, will not lead to statehood for the Palestinian people, in reference to the United Nations headquarters.
Patel also mentioned that there was no agreement among countries on whether Palestine fulfilled the requirements for becoming a member state in the UN.
The US believes that future statehood for the Palestinian people should be achieved through negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Patel stated that direct talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, supported by the United States and other partners, offer the most efficient path towards statehood.
Ziad Abu Amr, Special Representative of the Palestinians, raised a question at the Security Council. He asked how granting the State of Palestine full membership at the United Nations, like other countries, could harm the potential for peace between Palestinians and Israelis.
The Palestinian Mission to the UN initially asked to be recognized as a full member state in 2011. In November 2012, it was granted the status of ‘non-member observer state’.
Recently, the UN Committee on the Admission of New Members reviewed another request from Palestine for full state member status in the United Nations.
Palestine’s UN Ambassador Riyad Mansour described the step as a "historic moment," expressing hope that the Security Council would uphold the global consensus on the two-state solution by granting full membership to the state of Palestine.
In contrast, Israel’s UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan criticized the decision, referring to it as the potential establishment of a "Palestinian terror state."
“This won’t be a regular state. It will be a Palestine-Nazi state, an entity that achieved statehood despite being committed to terror and Israel’s annihilation,” Erdan added.
Editor's P/S:
The UN Security Council's failure to pass a resolution granting Palestine full membership highlights the ongoing challenges and complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The United States' veto underscores its commitment to a negotiated settlement between the two parties, while the Palestinian Authority's continued pursuit of UN recognition reflects its frustration with the lack of progress towards statehood.
The international community must continue to play a role in mediating a solution that meets the aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians. The two-state solution remains the most viable option for achieving a just and lasting peace, but it requires political will and compromise from both sides. The UN should continue to support efforts to create a conducive environment for negotiations and promote accountability for violations of international law. Ultimately, the path towards peace lies in direct talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, backed by the international community's unwavering commitment to a peaceful resolution.
