The United Nations General Assembly is set to vote on a resolution granting new rights and privileges to Palestine and urging the Security Council to reconsider their request for full membership in the UN. The United States has made it clear that they are opposed to this resolution, stating that the best way for Palestine to achieve full membership is through negotiations with Israel. However, since there are no vetoes in the General Assembly, the resolution is expected to be approved by a large majority.
The draft resolution determines that a state of Palestine is qualified for membership and recommends a favorable reconsideration by the Security Council. The conflict between Israel and Palestine has been highlighted by the recent war in Gaza, leading to concerns about the humanitarian crisis in the region. The resolution has been revised to address concerns from the US, Russia, and China, with changes made to the language to avoid setting precedents for other potential UN members.
The final draft of the resolution drops language that would give Palestine equal footing with member states and addresses concerns from China and Russia about setting a precedent for other regions like Kosovo and Taiwan. The resolution includes provisions for Palestine to participate in UN conferences and speak on a variety of issues, but does not grant them the right to vote in the General Assembly or put forward candidatures. The resolution aims to give Palestine the necessary rights and privileges to participate effectively in UN activities.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas first applied for UN membership in 2011, but failed due to lack of support in the Security Council. However, the Palestinians were successful in having their status raised to a non-member observer state in the General Assembly. This allowed them to join various international organizations, including the International Criminal Court. The Security Council vote on April 18 saw more support for full UN membership, but the US vetoed the resolution.
The resolution represents a renewed push for full Palestinian membership in the UN as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to escalate. The war in Gaza has brought attention to the ongoing humanitarian crisis and the need for a resolution to the decades-long conflict. Despite opposition from the US, the resolution is expected to pass in the General Assembly, granting Palestine new rights and privileges to participate in UN activities and conferences. The outcome of this vote will have significant implications for the future of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the role of Palestine in international organizations.
