The United Nations General Assembly voted Friday 143-9 in favor of promoting the Palestinian delegation to an “observer state” as Israel’s war in Gaza enters its seventh month.
Argentina, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, and Papua New Guinea joined Israel and the United States in opposing the measure. 25 member states, including the United Kingdom, abstained from the proposal.
The new status granted will allow Ramallah to make statements to the congregation on behalf of the Palestinian people, submit resolutions, and represent their government at U.N. conferences.
They will, however, not be allowed to vote on any business that comes before the world body.
Last month, the U.N. Security Council approved a request by Algeria to grant full membership to the group, but the nomination was vetoed by the U.S.
The determination also recommended that “the Security Council reconsider the matter favorably.”
Israel’s U.N. representative, Gilad Erdan, strongly objected to the “distorted values” of the “destructive vote” in a speech before the decision was made.
“You have opened up the United Nations to modern-day Nazis, to genocidal jihadists committed to establishing an Islamic state across Israel and the region, murdering every Jewish man, woman, and child. It makes me sick, sick,” Erdan continued while pointing out that much of the Palestinian territories are in fact controlled by the Hamas terrorist organization.
Ireland, Malta, Slovenia, and Spain have indicated that they intend to formally recognize a Palestinian state because of the vote's outcome.
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