Palestine: The Road to Full UN Membership
10 May 2024
Peace and Security
On Friday, the UN General Assembly reconvened in New York for an emergency session to discuss the State of Palestine's bid for full membership in the United Nations. The State of Palestine argues that it meets the necessary qualifications for membership, while the Security Council has repeatedly rejected its request.
The State of Palestine has been recognized by 143 of the 193 UN member states. In 2012, the UN Chief of Protocol decided to designate the State of Palestine as a non-member observer state, granting it the right to participate in General Assembly debates and decisions.
However, the Security Council has the sole authority to recommend the admission of new members to the UN. The United States has consistently vetoed Palestine's membership bid, arguing that a two-state solution is the only viable path to peace between Israel and Palestine.
The emergency session of the General Assembly is expected to adopt a resolution calling on the Security Council to reconsider Palestine's membership application. The resolution is likely to pass with a large majority, but it is unlikely to change the Security Council's position on the matter.
The question of Palestine's UN membership remains a complex and contentious issue. The Security Council's continued rejection of Palestine's membership bid is a major obstacle to peace in the Middle East.
However, the State of Palestine's recognition by the majority of UN member states and its status as a non-member observer state show that there is broad international support for its aspirations for statehood.
The road to full UN membership for Palestine is likely to be long and difficult, but the State of Palestine's determination to achieve statehood is unwavering.
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