UN General Assembly gives Palestinians more rights

 



 


Large parts of the global community are supporting the Palestinians in the midst of the Israel-Hamas war: They now have more rights at the United Nations. The General Assembly is also increasing the pressure on the USA.







The  UN General Assembly  voted by a large majority in favor of admitting the Palestinians to the United Nations. 143 states voted for a resolution that would admit the Palestinians to the UN and grant them some additional rights in addition to their existing observer status. The result has no direct impact on the membership status of the Palestinians, as the USA   always blocks full membership in the United Nations with its veto in the UN Security Council . The last time they did this was in mid-April. The resolution is expected to come into force when the UN General Assembly holds its 79th session in September.

China and Russia, among others, voted yes, as did Iran, all Arab states and most countries in Africa and South America. Nine states voted against the draft resolution: In addition to the  USA  and  Israel  , these were Hungary, the Czech Republic, Argentina, Palau, Nauru, Micronesia and Papua New Guinea. Europe was divided: A number of states such as France, Spain and Portugal agreed to the proposal - Hungary and the Czech Republic voted against it. 25 countries abstained, including Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Austria, Ukraine and Canada.

The Palestinian Authority welcomed the vote result. This affirms that "Palestine meets all the requirements set out in the Charter of the United Nations." Therefore, one deserves “full membership in the United Nations.” Palestinian UN Ambassador Riad Mansur said, referring to the US blockade in the UN Security Council: "Without a doubt the day will come when Palestine will take its rightful place in the community of free nations."


Harsh criticism from Israel

Israel's UN ambassador Gilad Erdan accused the gathering of promoting "the establishment of a Palestinian terrorist state." "You have opened the United Nations to modern-day Nazis and genocidal jihadists who are committed to establishing an Islamic state throughout Israel, in the region, and murdering every Jewish man, woman and child. It makes me sick." In a symbolic act, Erdan shredded pieces of paper in front of the lectern that read “United Nations Charter.”


Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz called the decision an “arbitrary, absurd and incoherent decision.” He explained on the online service X that the vote sent a message to the militant Islamist Palestinian organization Hamas that "violence pays." It "rewards Hamas' murderers and rapists, and undermines efforts to free hostages." The USA, the EU, Germany and other countries classify  Hamas  as a terrorist organization.




Call to the Security Council

The resolution, introduced by the United Arab Emirates, states "that the State of Palestine meets the requirements for membership" and "should therefore be admitted to the Organization." The Security Council is therefore called upon to “re-examine the matter favorably.” This could create a kind of "infinite diplomatic loop" in which the assembly repeatedly calls on the Council to grant membership to Palestine and the US vetoes it, said political expert Richard Gowan of the International Crisis Group.


The adopted document explicitly excludes that the Palestinians should be elected as a non-permanent member of the Security Council or enjoy voting rights in the UN General Assembly. But it gives them the opportunity to submit proposals and amendments directly - without having to go through another country as before. They also have the right to sit among the member states arranged alphabetically.


The USA wants the two-state solution first

 The government of US President Joe Biden advocates a two-state solution to resolve the Middle East conflict, i.e. an independent Palestinian state that coexists peacefully with Israel. But Washington rejects the application for full UN membership, arguing that the United Nations is not the right place to recognize a Palestinian state - rather, it should emerge from an agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. U.S. Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations Robert Wood called the resolution an “unproductive text.”  

The US Ambassador to the UN, Robert Wood
The UN Ambassador of the United States, Robert Wood (archive image)



Bild: Yuki Iwamura/AP/picture alliance

Against the backdrop of the  Israel-Hamas war,  the vote was also seen as an indication of the international mood regarding the recent escalations in the Middle East conflict. At the United Nations, there is a clear majority for resolutions critical of Israel or pro-Palestinian. There is no right of veto in the general assembly.

In order for a new state to be admitted to the United Nations, the 15-member Security Council must first agree. The motion must then be approved by the General Assembly, which consists of all 193 UN member states, with a two-thirds majority.

Germany only maintains diplomatic relations




A majority of the 193 UN member states unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state , according to the Palestinian Authority there are 137.  Germany  does not recognize a Palestinian state, but maintains diplomatic relations with the  Palestinian territories . In New York, the deputy German ambassador Thomas Zahneisen emphasized Germany's commitment to a Palestinian state. However, this could only arise as part of a two-state solution after direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.

According to EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, Spain, Ireland and Slovenia are also planning the symbolic unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state on May 21.

kle/yy/AL (afp, dpa)  


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