The United Nations General Assembly announced its support today, Friday, for the Palestinian effort to obtain full membership in the UN after acknowledging their eligibility to join.
The General Assembly issued a recommendation to the UN Security Council to ‘reconsider the matter favorably.’
The General Assembly vote, consisting of 193 member states, serves as a global poll of support for the Palestinian quest for full membership in the United Nations, a step that could lead to actual recognition of a Palestinian state after the United States vetoed this effort in the Security Council last month.
The General Assembly adopted the resolution today with a majority of 143 votes in favor against nine opposing votes, including the United States and Israel, while 25 countries abstained from voting.
The resolution does not grant Palestinians full membership in the United Nations, but acknowledges their eligibility to join.
The General Assembly resolution stated that ‘the State of Palestine should be admitted as
a member,’ and recommended ‘that the Security Council reconsider the matter favorably.’
The General Assembly resolution would grant Palestinians some additional rights and privileges as of September 2024, such as a seat alongside UN member states in the General Assembly Hall, but without the right to vote.
Currently, Palestinians have non-member observer state status, which is an actual recognition of a state accorded by the UN General Assembly in 2012.
The Palestinian mission to the United Nations in New York said in a speech to member states at the organisation on Thursday that adopting the resolution supporting full membership would be an investment in preserving the long standing two-state solution.
It added that it would constitute a clear reaffirmation of support for the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination at a crucial time, including their right to an independent state.
Source: Bahrain News Agency