The United States exercised its veto power in the United Nations Security Council on Thursday, effectively halting the recognition of a Palestinian state.
The veto was cast against a draft resolution recommending the admission of the State of Palestine as a full member of the UN, with only Britain and Switzerland abstaining while the remaining 12 council members voted affirmatively.
Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Robert Wood, clarified that the U.S. remains a proponent of a two-state solution but emphasizes that Palestinian statehood should arise from direct negotiations between the concerned parties.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas criticized the U.S. veto, labeling it as “unfair, unethical, and unjustified.”
Palestinian UN Ambassador Riyad Mansour expressed determination despite the setback, stating that the failed resolution wouldn’t deter their efforts.
The push for full UN membership comes amid heightened tensions, including the recent Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza and Israel’s expansion of settlements in the West Bank, considered illegal by the UN.
Israel’s Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, praised the U.S. veto, while Israel’s UN Ambassador, Gilad Erdan, lamented the council members’ affirmative votes, warning that they would bolster Palestinian rejectionism and hinder peace prospects.
The Palestinians currently hold non-member observer status in the UN, granted in 2012, but seek full membership, requiring Security Council approval followed by a two-thirds majority vote in the General Assembly.
Meanwhile, Britain’s UN Ambassador, Barbara Woodward, emphasized the need to address the immediate crisis in Gaza before advancing discussions on Palestinian statehood.
