Palestinian Push for Full Membership Heads to UN General Assembly Vote
This Friday, the United Nations General Assembly is set to vote on a pivotal resolution that could bring the Palestinians closer to full UN membership status. The draft resolution, which has garnered significant attention, recommends that the UN Security Council “reconsider the matter favorably” following a US veto last month against the Palestinian bid. The Palestinians currently hold the status of a non-member observer state, which was granted by the General Assembly in 2012.
The resolution acts as a barometer of international support for the Palestinian aspiration for statehood, which requires approval from both the Security Council and the General Assembly. While the 193-member General Assembly is expected to support the Palestinian bid, the draft has sparked controversy over its implications, potentially extending certain state-like rights and privileges to the Palestinians, short of full membership.
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Various diplomats have raised concerns about setting a precedent that might affect other territories, such as Kosovo and Taiwan. Israel’s UN Ambassador, Gilad Erdan, has sharply criticized the resolution, arguing that it contravenes the founding UN Charter by granting de facto state status to the Palestinians. Erdan also warned that its adoption could lead the United States to cease funding for the UN, citing American laws that prohibit funding to any UN body recognizing an entity without the “internationally recognized attributes” of statehood.
The US has reiterated its stance that Palestinian statehood should be achieved through direct negotiations, not unilateral actions. Nate Evans, spokesperson for the US mission to the UN, expressed concerns about extending benefits to the Palestinians under the current conditions. The debate over Palestinian membership comes amidst ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hamas and continued Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank, which the UN deems illegal, constituting “occupation.”
