The US will veto UN Security Council resolution granting full membership to Palestine as a UN state.
As of now, Palestine holds non-member observer status at the U.N., which limits its involvement in the international body, including casting votes on resolutions.
On April 19, the United States will utilize its permanent veto to block a United Nations Security Council resolution that aims to grant Palestine U.N. membership.
This veto power allows the United States to unilaterally defeat any resolution, even if the majority of the council members support it. The United Kingdom, China, Russia, and France also possess permanent veto power.
The State Department Deputy Spokesperson, Vedant Patel, confirmed on April 18 that the United States would veto the resolution seeking to elevate Palestine’s status at the U.N.
He emphasized the U.S. stance on sustainable peace in the region through a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians, with a guarantee of Israel’s security. Patel stressed that premature actions by the U.N. will not lead to statehood for the Palestinian people.
Furthermore, Patel explained that there is no unanimous agreement within the U.N. admission committee on whether Palestine meets the membership criteria set out in Article Four of the U.N. charter.
He highlighted the U.S.’s call for necessary reforms by the Palestinian Authority for Palestine to attain state recognition, citing Hamas’ control over Gaza as a complicating factor.
Supporters of Palestinian full U.N. membership have urged the Security Council to revisit the 2011 application for admission.
Israel’s U.N. ambassador dismissed the possibility of Palestinian statehood, framing it as crucial to his country’s survival.
Palestinian U.N. ambassador Riyad Mansour expressed optimism about the renewed momentum for Palestinian statehood at the U.N.
Following the rejection of their initial bid for full U.N. membership, Palestinians upgraded their status to a U.N. non-member observer state in November 2012 through the General Assembly.
(Source: The Associated Press)
