UNGA backs Palestinian bid for membership; US among 9 countries vote against resolution

UNITED NATIONS: In a historic vote, the UN General Assembly decisively approved a resolution on Friday, granting Palestine an enhanced presence within the world body, bolstering its rights and privileges.

The resolution passed with an overwhelming majority of 143 countries in favour, signalling a resounding international endorsement.

Nine countries, led by the United States, voted against the resolution. Twenty-five countries, including Britain, abstained.

US Ambassador Robert Wood said Washington’s negative vote does not reflect its opposition to Palestinian statehood.

“We have been very clear that we support it and seek to advance it meaningfully. Instead, it is an acknowledgement that statehood will come from a process that involves direct negotiations between the parties,” he said.

Russia’s Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia criticised the US, saying the resolution was complicated because it attempted to advance Palestinian membership as far as possible, without provoking another veto from Washington on full membership. He said Palestine deserves nothing less than a full membership.

Munir Akram, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN, said there would come a day when Israel would be held accountable for the crimes committed against Palestinians, especially in Gaza.

He clarified that this resolution pertained specifically to Palestine and would not impact the status of other states, such as Taiwan, which was China’s primary concern.

The insults hurled today are “the arrogance of the aggressor”, reflecting the impunity of the occupier, he said, expressing the hope that the international community would appropriately respond.

The adoption upgrades the rights of the state of Palestine within the world body, but not the right to vote or put forward its candidature to organs such as the Security Council or the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

Granting Palestinian membership requires a recommendation from the Security Council. At the same time, the Assembly determines that the state of Palestine is qualified for such status and recommends that the Security Council “reconsider the matter favourably”.

Palestine is now also eligible for election as officers in some of the General Assembly’s committees, marking a significant step towards its fuller integration into the UN framework.

None of the upgrades in status will take effect until the new session of the Assembly opens on Sept 10.

China in the meantime has welcomed the resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly on Friday backing Palestine’s bid to become a full member and expressed support for a UN Security Council (UNSC) review of Palestine’s application, Al Jazeera reports.

Fu Cong, China’s permanent representative to the UN, said that Palestine should share the same status as Israel within the body, and criticised the US for “mercilessly” vetoing its bid for full membership at the UNSC on April 18.

“The US has repeatedly used veto in an unjustified attempt to obstruct the international community’s efforts to correct the historical injustice on Palestine. This is not commensurate with the role of a responsible major country,” Fu said.