UN adopts resolution granting Palestine’s ‘Observer State’ rights

The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution granting the State of Palestine rights to the world body as an Observer State but not the right to vote or put forward its candidature to organs such as the Security Council or the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

In a meeting convened in New York on Friday, the UN urged the Security Council to give “favourable consideration” to Palestine’s request.

According to a press statement by UN News, “None of the status upgrades will take effect until the new session of the Assembly opens on September 10, 2024.”

However, if and when the full recommendation requested by Palestine is granted as a full member of the Assembly, here are some of the changes it will have access to:

1. To be seated among Member States in alphabetical order
2. Make statements on behalf of a group
3. Submit proposals and amendments and introduce them
4. Co-sponsor proposals and amendments, including on behalf of a group
5. Propose items to be included in the provisional agenda of the regular or special sessions and the right to request the inclusion of supplementary or additional items in the agenda of regular or special sessions
6. The right of members of the delegation of the State of Palestine to be elected as officers in the plenary and the Main Committees of the General Assembly
7. Full and effective participation in United Nations conferences and international conferences and meetings convened under the auspices of the General Assembly or, as appropriate, under the auspices of other organs of the United Nations.

Meanwhile, during the voting process that grants State of Palestine as an Observer State at the UN, 143 global south’ countries voted in favour of Palestine, 9 against, and 25 abstention.

Explaining the negative US’ vote, Ambassador Robert Wood said that it did not reflect opposition to Palestinian statehood.

We have been very clear that we support it and seek to advance it meaningfully. Instead, it is an acknowledgement that statehood will come from a process that involves direct negotiations between the parties, he said.

While Russia’s Ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia maintained its in-favour vote as a moral duty, Israel’s Permanent Representative of Israel to the UN, Gild Erdan accused the UN of opening up to modern-day Naziism, stating it makes him sick.

Yet, Russia’s Nebenzia cautioned that the US, saying that the resolution is complicated because it is attempting to advance Palestinian membership as far as possible, without provoking another veto from Washington on full membership.

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