Yesterday, the United Nations General Assembly largely supported a resolution favoring the Palestinian bid for full U.N. membership. The assembly voted with 143 in favor, 9 against, and 25 abstentions. This vote sends a recommendation to the U.N. Security Council to reconsider Palestine’s membership, which the United States previously vetoed.
The resolution recognizes Palestine as qualified for membership but does not immediately grant it. It reflects substantial international support for Palestinian statehood amid ongoing conflicts and Israeli settlement expansions in the West Bank, deemed illegal by the U.N.
Palestinian U.N. Ambassador Riyad Mansour presented the vote as a support for Palestinian aspirations for statehood and peace, emphasizing that it was not against any nation. In a dramatic response, Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Gilad Erdan shredded a copy of the U.N. Charter, accusing the assembly of disregarding the Charter’s principles.
The resolution occurs amid heightened tensions, including the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The General Assembly’s decision illustrates the complex international views on the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., Robert Wood, stated after the vote that the U.S. supports Palestinian statehood but insists that it should result from direct negotiations between Israel and Palestine. He emphasized that a peaceful resolution ensuring security for both nations is preferable.
The resolution also provides Palestine with certain new rights from September 2024, such as a seat in the U.N. assembly hall, though without voting privileges. Palestine currently holds non-member observer state status, granted in 2012, which allows participation in U.N. activities but not full membership benefits.
This development at the U.N. highlights ongoing international efforts to address the Israel-Palestine conflict and the diverse global opinions on how to support the legitimate interests of both Israelis and Palestinians, aiming for a sustainable peace and adherence to international laws.
Image is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license and was created by ComServant.
Map = Map of Israel
Red = The Gaza Strip in Israel where some Palestinians are residing in Israel. This location is also the location of the Israel–Hamas war within Israel.
Green = Locations where Palestinians are currently occupying territory within Israel.
