UNITED NATIONS/Xinhua
The UN General Assembly today passed a resolution that, while not granting Palestine full membership in the UN, recognizes it as qualified to join the organization.
The resolution was adopted with 143 votes in favor and nine against, including those of the United States and Israel. Twenty-five countries abstained.
The General Assembly resolution declares that “The State of Palestine…should therefore be accepted as a member” and “recommends that the Security Council reconsider the matter favorably.”
By adopting this resolution, the General Assembly will expand the rights of the State of Palestine in the world organization, but will not grant it the right to vote or to stand as candidate for bodies such as the Security Council or the Economic and Social Council.
Granting membership to Palestine requires a recommendation from the Security Council. At the same time, the General Assembly determined that the State of Palestine is qualified for such status and recommended that the Security Council “reconsider the matter favorably.”
The resolution, proposed by the United Arab Emirates on behalf of 22 Arab countries and co-sponsored by around 65 States, states that “the State of Palestine is qualified for membership in the United Nations in accordance with Article 4 of the Charter.” and therefore it must be accepted.
The UAE’s permanent representative to the UN, Mohamed Abushahab, addressed the General Assembly before the vote and emphasized the broad recognition of the legitimacy of Palestine’s candidacy.
“The vast majority of countries in the General Assembly are fully aware of the legitimacy of the Palestinian candidacy and the justice of their cause, which is currently facing serious attempts to be suppressed and rendered meaningless,” he said.
The representative also stressed that granting full membership to Palestine would send a “powerful message” of support for the two-state solution, adding that “fulfillment of the UN’s historic obligation to the Palestinian people has been long overdue, but never It’s too late”.
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