Through tears, Palestinian Ambassador Ziad Abu Amr denounced it as “unfair” and asked for peace and freedom for his people. Twelve countries, including permanent countries France, China and Russia, voted in favor; Great Britain and Switzerland abstained. Palestine will remain only an observer.
USA vetoed the resolution in the Security Council that opened the door to accession Palestine as full member of the United Nations, of which it is now only an observer state.
The resolution was tabled by Algeria on behalf of the United Nations Arab Group and received twelve positive votes, compared to two abstentions (United Kingdom and Switzerland) and the negative vote from the United States, showing that the isolation of the United States in front of the majority of the international community.
Even countries that had been ambiguous in previous speeches (such as France, Japan, Korea and Ecuador) have finally joined the Palestinian request.
After passing the nine votes needed for its passage, all that remained was the veto to stop the resolution, and the United States had already announced that it would exercise that option in favor of its ally Israel, which is strongly opposed to a Palestinian resolution. stands. Is The fourth time Since October 7, the United States has used its veto in Israel’s favor: before today, it vetoed three resolutions calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, arguing that they undermine Israel’s right to to defend themselves or that a ceasefire would only serve to rearm Hamas.
Great expectations on the eve of the vote
Today’s resolution had raised enormous expectations, and in fact the heads of diplomacy of Spain, Iran, Algeria, Jordan, Malta, Brazil, Bolivia and Colombia, in addition to representatives of sixty other countries, all supported the Palestinian request.
The envoy of the Palestinian presidency, Ziad Abu Amr, visibly moved and with tears on his face, criticized the presidency as “unfair” and asked for peace and freedom for his people.
The veto that the United States will now pass to the General Assembly. Since April 2022, and following a reform of UN regulations, cases where a permanent member state uses its veto power must necessarily go for debate to the General Assembly, where the resolutions are not binding but have a high symbolic value.
The new vote is expected on May 7 and will force the United States to provide explanations in the General Assembly, where all countries, large and small, sit on an equal footing. The isolation will then become even more apparent, as there are currently 139 countries that already recognize Palestine (out of the 193 countries that make up the UN).
US: “Was it necessary to put the United States in this position?”
The United States’ deputy ambassador to the UN, Robert Wood, assured today’s vote that “we must ask the Arabs what they have achieved.” According to Wood, Algeria and Palestine should ask themselves “whether it was necessary” to reach this situation and “put the United States in this position” where they would have to use their veto power, knowing in advance that the resolution would not would be adopted. forward. “I don’t see how this (today’s vote) moves the issue toward the two states,” he added.
The government of Israelin turn, the United States has praised its veto: “The proposal of recognize a Palestinian statemore than six months after the largest mass murder of Jews since the Holocaust and after the sexual crimes and other atrocities committed by Hamas terrorists, a reward for terrorismsaid Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz.
Source: EITB
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
