Its entry as a full member was vetoed by the United States at the end of April. Now, a resolution advocates granting “additional rights and privileges” that would make Palestine a historical oddity, somewhere between observer state status and a full state.
The UN General Assembly vote this Friday new status for Palestine that contemplates improvements in its status as an observer state without becoming a member state, after its full membership was vetoed by the United States in the Security Council.
The assembly will analyze starting at 2:00 p.m. GMT (4:00 p.m. in Euskal Herria) a draft resolution with which it seeks to give a political support to Palestine’s aspirations to integrate within the UN orbit, through the granting of more rights of representation and the public rebuke of the United States for the veto applied.
After the veto in the Security Council, the main executive body of the UN, the General Assembly – all the countries that are part of the UN are represented – now seeks to demonstrate that the North American position is a minority.
More than 30 countries are sponsoring a resolution that, although it will not allow Washington’s veto to be circumvented, does propose “additional rights and privileges.” The new rights that Palestinians aspire to achieve this Friday include submit proposals individually or on behalf of a group before the Assembly, ask right of replymake statements or request agenda modificationsamong others.
If approved, the status of Palestine would become a historical rarityan intermediate point between the observer state (such as the Vatican) and the 193 full members.
The resolution further states that “the State of Palestine is qualified for membership” and “recommends that the Security Council reconsider the matter”, although it cannot force that body to do so. The text “reaffirms the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination”, which includes their “right to an independent State of Palestine” and “the end of the Israeli occupation.”
The promoting countries, however, have introduced a nuance within the articles to make it clear that this gesture towards the Palestinians is “exceptional” and “does not set a precedent”, given the apparent fear of certain powers that other territories whose sovereignty is still in dispute, such as Taiwan and Kosovo, may also claim a comparable framework.
The General Assembly demanded a ceasefire in December with more than 150 votes in favor. For this Friday’s vote, a similar or even higher result is expected, by on in any case of two thirds of a body that has 193 members. More than a hundred delegations have asked to speak at the session, including that of Spain.
Source: Eitb
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