PALESTINE AND UN
MEMBERSHIP - INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
News: u.s. vetoes resolution backing
full u.n. membership for palestine
what's in the news?
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the united states vetoed a widely backed u.n.
resolution that would have paved the way for full united nations membership for
the state of palestine.
key takeaways:
●
the vote in the 15-member security council was 12
in favour, the united states opposed and two abstentions.
●
the resolution would have recommended that the 193-member general assembly, where
there are no vetoes, approve palestine becoming the 194th member of the united
nations.
○
some 140 countries have already recognized the
state of palestine, so its admission would have been approved.
requirement of a state
to become full un membership:
●
for a state to become a full member of the united
nations, its application must first receive the support of at least nine out of the 15 members of the security council, including
the approval of all five permanent members, without any of them exercising
their veto power.
●
following this, the application must be approved by
a two-thirds majority in the general
assembly.
request by palestine:
●
amid the gaza war, palestine submitted a request to
reconsider its 2011 application for un membership to the secretary-general on
april 2.
draft resolution:
●
the draft resolution was moved to unga, simply
recommending palestine's admission to the un as a member state.
voting:
●
the vote in the 15-member security council was 12
in favor, the united states opposed, and two abstentions.
previous attempts made
by the palestine:
●
palestine has previously applied for full un
membership.
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a notable
attempt was in 2011, which did not advance to a vote in the security
council due to insufficient support and the anticipated us veto.
why does the united
states oppose palestine membership from the u.n.?
●
the united states has consistently argued that
palestinian statehood should be the result of direct negotiations between israel and palestine, rather than
through unilateral actions in international forums. the us position is that a
lasting peace agreement must precede full un membership for palestine.
current status of
palestine:
●
since 2012, palestine has held the status of a non-member observer state at the united
nations, similar to the vatican.
●
this status allows palestine to participate in
general assembly debates and improves its chances of joining un agencies and
signing international treaties.
why does palestine
insists on getting un membership?
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achieving full un membership would be a significant
symbolic victory for palestine, affirming its sovereignty and statehood on the international stage.
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it would also grant palestine full voting rights
and the ability to participate in all un functions and agencies as a member
state.
why does israel’s object
to palestinian un membership?
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israel opposes palestinian un membership outside of
a negotiated peace agreement, arguing that unilateral steps could undermine the
prospects for a two-state solution and direct negotiations.
●
israel asserts that palestinian statehood should
come as a result of mutual agreements that ensure security and recognition for
both states.