US vetos UN recognition of Palestinian state
The United States effectively arrested the United Nations’s attempt to recognize a Palestinian state on April 18th, casting a veto in the Security Council denying Palestinian Authority membership of the world body, Middle East Online and agencies reported.
The United States claimed that an independent Palestinian state should be established via direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority — not through UN action.
It vetoed a draft resolution recommending to the UN General Assembly that “the State of Palestine be admitted to membership of the United Nations.” Britain and Switzerland abstained, while the remaining 12 council members voted yes.
In a statement from Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, he said the US veto was “unfair, unethical and unjustified.”
The Palestinians are currently a non-member observer state — a de facto recognition of statehood granted by the UN General Assembly in 2012. An application to become a full UN member required the approval of the Security Council and at least two-thirds of the General Assembly.
READ: Israeli Parliament rejects Palestinian state recognition
The Palestinian push for full UN membership comes six months into the Israel-Hamas war — and as Israel plans to build more settlements in the West Bank and Jerusalem.
While member of the Palestinian Legislative Council Ziad Abu Amr said full Palestinian UN membership was not an alternative for serious political negotiations to resolve pending issues, he clarified that “this resolution will grant hope to the Palestinian people hope for a decent life within an independent state.”
“Recent escalations make it even more important to support good-faith efforts to find lasting peace between Israel and a fully independent, viable and sovereign Palestinian state,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres told the council.
Alternatively, Israel’s UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan alleged that Palestinians failed to meet the criteria to become a full UN member — outlining aspects such as a permanent population, defined territory, government and capacity to enter relations with other states.
“Who is the council voting to ‘recognize’ and give full membership status to?” Erdan asked the Security Council. “Hamas in Gaza? The Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Nablus? Who?”
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He added that granting Palestine UN membership “will have zero positive impact for any party,” and that it would “cause only destruction for years to come, and harm any chance for future dialogue.”
The UN Security Council has long endorsed the two-State solution — envisioning two states living side by side within secure and recognized borders. Palestinians want a state in the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza Strip — territories captured by Israel in 1967.
“Failure to make progress towards a two-State solution will only increase volatility and risk for hundreds of millions of people across the region, who will continue to live under the constant threat of violence,” said Guterres.
“How could this damage the prospects of peace between Palestinians and Israelis?” Abu Amr asked the US. “How could this recognition and this membership harm international peace and security?”
“Those who are trying to disrupt and hinder the adoption of such a resolution […] are not helping the prospects of peace between Palestinians and Israelis and the prospects for peace in the Middle East in general,” he added.
Middle East Online and agencies
