The President of the United Nations Security Council referred the Palestinian Authority’s bid for full UN membership to the committee responsible for new member admissions.
Malta’s U.N. Ambassador proposed an urgent meeting for deliberations, stressing the importance of addressing the matter promptly.
Expressing hope after the meeting, Palestinian U.N. envoy Riyad Mansour emphasized the significance of elevating the Security Council’s commitment to implementing the two-state solution.
The Palestinian Authority seeks full membership after operating as a non-member observer state since 2011, aligning itself with the Holy See.
The membership committee will scrutinize the application’s compliance with UN membership requirements. Following this assessment, the Security Council may proceed with a formal vote, requiring at least nine affirmative votes and no vetoes from key veto-wielding members like the U.S., Russia, China, France, or Britain.
Earlier, the Security Council held a closed-door meeting to discuss the Palestinian request for renewed consideration of their membership application.
Palestinian hopes hinge on a decision expected at an upcoming April 18 ministerial meeting on the Middle East. However, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, expressed concerns, warning that Palestinian statehood could pose a significant national security threat.
Erdan criticized the potential granting of Palestinian statehood, alleging it violates the UN Charter and undermines peace efforts. He accused the UN of perpetuating Middle East conflicts and viewed the current situation as a pivotal turning point.
