UN grants Palestine new rights, revives UN membership bid

The United Nations General Assembly recently cast a significant vote, favoring new “rights and privileges” for Palestine and urging the Security Council to reevaluate Palestine’s bid to become the 194th member of the United Nations. The resolution, backed by Arab and Palestinian supporters, passed with a decisive majority of 143-9, with 25 abstentions. The United States, Israel, and a few other countries opposed it.

The resolution is part of a broader push for Palestine’s full membership in the U.N., which has gained wide international support despite ongoing conflicts in the region, notably the severe humanitarian issues in Gaza. This was underscored by another resolution passed earlier on October 27, calling for a cease-fire in Gaza, which received substantial approval.

However, the resolution specifies that Palestine will continue as a non-member observer state and will not have full voting rights in the General Assembly or its conferences. The U.S. has indicated that it will block full membership for Palestine until a negotiated settlement with Israel is reached, addressing key issues like security, borders, and the status of Jerusalem to achieve a two-state solution.

Robert Wood, U.S. Deputy Ambassador, emphasized that U.S. support for Palestinian statehood hinges on direct negotiations ensuring Israel’s security and a peaceful Palestinian state.

Despite strong backing in the General Assembly, where there are no vetoes unlike in the Security Council, the resolution passed with much more than the two-thirds majority required, with several U.S. allies supporting it, though European nations showed a divided stance.

The resolution softens previous language to “determine” that a state of Palestine qualifies for membership and recommends the Security Council view the membership bid favorably.

The vote comes amid ongoing intense conflict in Gaza, which has brought the longstanding Israeli-Palestinian issue to the forefront, with significant casualties reported and extensive debate over the humanitarian crisis.

Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian U.N. Ambassador, gave a poignant speech before the vote, discussing the profound losses and challenges faced by Palestinians, especially in Gaza. On the other hand, Israel’s U.N. Ambassador, Gilad Erdan, criticized the resolution, arguing that it would inadvertently reward hostile actions, reflecting deep-seated tensions.

The final draft of the resolution was notably altered to address concerns from the U.S., Russia, and China regarding potential precedents that could affect other regions like Kosovo and Taiwan.

Palestine has been a U.N. non-member observer state since 2012, allowing it to join various international organizations. The latest resolution further enhances Palestine’s participation in U.N. activities, though it stops short of granting voting rights or full membership status.