The General Assembly on Friday adopted a resolution urging the Security Council to have its positive view of the request for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state and to recognize Palestine as the 194th member of the United Nations.
The draft resolution ultimately passed with 143 in favor, 9 against, and 25 abstentions; meaning out of the 193 UN members, 143 countries voted positively on this resolution.
While Palestine is currently a non-member observer in this international body, it has been striving for full membership for years. The final decision on Palestine's permanent membership in the UN is expected to be made by the Security Council, and it is anticipated that the United States will veto this proposal. Last month, the country vetoed a proposed resolution for Palestine's acceptance into the UN, which had been raised by Algeria. Twelve countries were in favor of the resolution, while Britain and Switzerland abstained.
Friday's resolution by the General Assembly, while not granting full membership to Palestine in the UN, provides Palestine with more rights and privileges, such as joining various UN agencies and bodies. For example, this resolution allows Palestine to fully participate in discussions, propose agenda items, and elect its representatives in committees. However, this country still won't have the right to vote.
Before the vote, Gilad Erdan, Israel's permanent representative to the UN, in his speech to the General Assembly, tore up the UN Charter inside a paper shredder to illustrate a clear demonstration of the nature of the Zionist regime.
New rights for Palestine in UN
Although the new resolution does not signify full membership in the UN, it makes Palestinians a "qualified" country for joining, possessing the necessary conditions for achieving this goal.
Simultaneously, Josep Borrell, the EU's foreign policy chief, also announced that Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, and possibly several other European countries are planning to officially recognize Palestine as an independent state in May 21. According to him, while this action does not change anything, it is a symbolic gesture acknowledging the existence of an "independent Palestine". Since 1988, 139 out of 193 UN member countries have recognized Palestine as an independent state.
According to the laws and charter of the UN, Palestine is entitled to full and legitimate membership in this organization; as under Article 4 of the UN Charter, peace-loving countries that accept the obligations of this charter and have the ability to implement it, as determined by the organization, can become UN members.
The Palestinian people, over the past 75 years, despite many pains and sufferings, have always emphasized the necessity of global peace and justice, including towards Palestine. Alongside having the conditions of an independent state (population, territory, sovereignty, and government), Palestinians have always sought to benefit from regional and global capacities to uphold their rights, including membership in international organizations, and have always adhered to global regulations and commitments. Even their approach to armed resistance has been based on the laws and principles of the UN Charter, focusing on legitimate defense against aggressors and occupiers.
What drove the General Assembly towards accepting Palestine's full membership was not diplomatic compromise and two-state negotiations but the legitimate resistance of Palestinians, which once again drew global attention to the issue of Palestine and the apartheid imposed upon them. It was on this basis that Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran's ambassador and permanent representative to the UN, stated Iran's support for Palestine's full membership in the UN, saying: "Accepting Palestine as a full member of the UN is the first crucial step in addressing the historical injustices endured by the people of Palestine."
NOURNEWS