The United Nations General Assembly is poised to endorse a Palestinian bid for full U.N. membership by acknowledging its qualification to join.
On Friday, May 10, the UN announced its intention to refer Palestine’s application to the U.N. Security Council for a “favourable reconsideration” of the matter.
This move signals the Palestinians’ renewed effort to attain full U.N. membership, effectively acknowledging a Palestinian state, after facing a U.S. veto in the 15-member U.N. Security Council last month.
The forthcoming vote in the 193-member General Assembly will serve as a global gauge of support for the Palestinian cause.
Currently, the Palestinians hold the status of a non-member observer state, a de facto acknowledgment of statehood granted by the U.N. General Assembly in 2012.
To achieve full U.N. membership, an application must first gain approval from the Security Council before proceeding to the General Assembly.
While the General Assembly lacks the authority to grant full U.N. membership, the proposed resolution slated for a vote on Friday would afford the Palestinians certain additional rights and privileges from September 2024. This includes a seat among U.N. members in the assembly hall, though without voting privileges.
The push for full U.N. membership comes amid ongoing conflict, with Israel engaged in a seven-month war against Palestinian militants Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Additionally, Israel’s expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank, deemed illegal by the U.N., further underscores the urgency of the Palestinian quest for recognition.
