US Deputy Ambassador to the UN Robert Wooden votes in opposition to a decision permitting Palestinian UN membership at United Nations headquarters in New York, on April 18, 2024, throughout a United Nations Safety Council assembly on the scenario within the Center East, together with the Palestinian query. America vetoed a Safety Council measure on a Palestinian bid for full United Nations membership. The draft decision, which was launched by Algeria and “recommends to the Common Meeting that the State of Palestine be admitted to membership of the United Nations,” obtained 12 votes in favor, two abstentions and one in opposition to. (Picture by ANGELA WEISS / AFP)
UNITED NATIONS, United States — America on Thursday spoiled a long-shot Palestinian bid for full United Nations membership, vetoing a Safety Council measure regardless of rising worldwide misery over the humanitarian disaster in Gaza.
The transfer by Israel’s key ally had been anticipated forward of the vote, going down greater than six months into Israel’s army offensive within the besieged Palestinian territory, in retaliation for the lethal October 7 assault by Hamas militants on southern Israel.
Twelve nations voted in favor of the draft decision recommending full Palestinian membership. Britain and Switzerland abstained.
Palestinian chief Mahmud Abbas’s workplace known as the US veto “a blatant aggression” and “an encouragement to the pursuit of the genocidal warfare in opposition to our individuals… which pushes the area ever additional to the sting of the abyss.”
READ: Israel fury at US abstention on Safety Council ceasefire vote
The draft decision known as for recommending to the Common Meeting “that the State of Palestine be admitted to membership of the United Nations” rather than its present “non-member observer state” standing, which it has held since 2012.
Forward of the vote, particular Palestinian Authority envoy Ziad Abu Amr instructed the United Nations Safety Council (UNSC) that “granting Palestine full membership on the United Nations will carry a number of the historic injustice that succeeding Palestinian generations have been subjected to.”
Ambassador Amar Bendjama from Algeria, which launched the draft, mentioned: “Failure to behave is a severe unforgivable mistake. Failure to get up at the moment is a license for persevering with injustice and impunity.
“Failure to take action is eternal disgrace,” he added.
Two-state answer
Any request to develop into a UN member state should first earn a advice from the UNSC – that means at the least 9 constructive votes out of 15, and no vetoes – adopted by endorsement by two-thirds majority of the Common Meeting.
America, Israel’s foremost ally, has not hesitated up to now to make use of its veto to guard Israel, and didn’t conceal its lack of enthusiasm for Palestinian UN membership within the weeks main as much as the vote, because the Palestinians and different Arab states implored the Council to advocate full membership.
Washington has mentioned its place is unchanged: that the UN shouldn’t be the venue for recognition of a Palestinian state, which should be the results of a peace take care of Israel.
“America continues to strongly assist the two-state answer,” US Deputy Ambassador Robert Wooden mentioned after the vote Thursday.
“This vote doesn’t mirror opposition to Palestinian statehood, however as a substitute is an acknowledgement that it’ll solely come from direct negotiations between the events.”
Israel’s UN envoy Gilad Erdan slammed the truth that the UNSC was even reviewing the matter, calling it “immoral.”
Israel’s authorities opposes a two-state answer, the end result supported by many of the worldwide group.
The vast majority of the UN’s 193 member states (137, in keeping with a Palestinian rely) have in the meantime unilaterally acknowledged a Palestinian state.
READ: Palestinians make historic UN bid for statehood
The final veto of a decision for UN membership dates again to 1976, when america blocked Vietnam’s entry.
The measure’s failure represented a “unhappy day,” Chinese language Ambassador Fu Cong mentioned, calling the US veto “most disappointing.”
UN Secretary-Common Antonio Guterres painted a darkish image of the scenario within the Center East, saying the area was “on a precipice.”
“Current days have seen a dangerous escalation – in phrases and deeds,” Guterres instructed a high-level Safety Council assembly, referencing Iran’s weekend missile and drone assault, which got here within the wake of a strike on its consulate in Damascus broadly blamed on Israel.
“One miscalculation, one miscommunication, one mistake, may result in the unthinkable — a full-scale regional battle that might be devastating for all concerned,” he mentioned.
The UN chief additionally mentioned Israel’s army offensive in Gaza had created a “humanitarian hellscape” for civilians trapped there, calling on Israel to permit extra assist into the territory.
Not less than 33,970 individuals have been killed within the Gaza Strip, in keeping with the well being ministry within the Hamas-run territory. The October 7 assault resulted within the deaths of 1,170 individuals in southern Israel, largely civilians, in keeping with official Israeli figures.
Your subscription couldn’t be saved. Please attempt once more.
Your subscription has been profitable.
“It’s excessive time to finish the bloody cycle of retaliation,” Guterres mentioned.
