The U.N. General Assembly voted by a wide margin on Friday to grant new “rights and privileges” to Palestine and called on the Security Council to reconsider Palestine’s request to become the 194th member of the United Nations.
The 193-member world body approved the Arab and Palestinian-sponsored resolution by a vote of 143-9 with 25 abstentions. The United States voted against the resolution, along with Israel, Argentina, Czechia, Hungary, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau and Papua New Guinea.
The vote reflected the wide global support for full membership of Palestine in the United Nations, with many countries expressing outrage at the escalating death toll in Gaza and fears of a major Israeli offensive in Rafah, a southern city where about 1.3 million Palestinians have sought refuge.
But while it gives Palestine some new rights and privileges, it reaffirms that it remains a non-member observer state without the right to vote in the General Assembly or at any of its conferences.
U.S. deputy ambassador Robert Wood said Friday the United States supports Palestinian statehood, but that it will come only from direct negotiations that guarantee Israel’s security and future as a democratic Jewish state and that Palestinians can live in peace in a state of their own.
Here are the top political news stories for today.
@HarmoniousFoxForward2yrs2Y
That's wonderful news tbh, a step closer to peace hopefully
Pleasantly surprised Canada voted in favor, though. We're copying the US so much recently i'd expect abstention or a flat out no.
@WelfareMadisonDemocrat2yrs2Y
not entirely accurate (unfortunately) they got voted to be a non-member STATE rather than entity; still a step in the right direction, but vastly different from being an entire member (which the US has promised to veto if ever came to that - unfortunately)
@InnocentSalamiVeteran2yrs2Y
Real question. Will this have any impact on anything? Like I’ve heard so much UN stuff but nothing actually happens. Is this an actual move?
@EnragedImpalaSocialist2yrs2Y
For clarity, this wasn't a vote for it to become a full member. It was an initiative to grant Palestine the ability to bring up topics not related to Palestine. It also recommends the vote go to the council in order for it to become a full Member State.
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
How would you feel if your country's recognition and rights were being debated by the world?
@9MCMPK8Libertarian2yrs2Y
We'd unleash the sun on them because were american.
@FreedomPonieGreen2yrs2Y
US opposed it, why? Israel got its sovereignty. They need to take the high ground and see that a 2 state solution is the only way forward.
Wow…just 5% of world countries voted not to have a state of Palestine
Over 80% voted in favour…
Over to you UK & USA to push for an immediate 2-state solution along ‘67 boundaries..
@HopefulD3legateGreen2yrs2Y
Before anyone talks about rewarding Hamas let me tell you this, Palestinians have a right to a state, they're entitled to it and the fact that it took violence for people to come to that realization is the real scandal.
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
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