The United Nations Security Council president, Malta's U.N. Ambassador Vanessa Frazier, officially made a referral for the Palestinian Authority to have full membership in the world body on Monday.
“Unless I hear a proposal to the contrary, I shall refer to the Committee of Admission of New Members, the request that renewed consideration be given to the application of the observer State of Palestine, during the month of April 2024,” Frazier said of the application.
The motion reportedly received no objections from any of the council’s 15 members.
Palestinian U.N. representative Riyad Mansour responded to the decision by telling reporters that "we sincerely hope, after 12 years since we changed our status to an observer state, that the Security Council will elevate itself to implementing the global consensus on the two-state solution by admitting the state of Palestine for full membership."
If the Security Council finds that Ramallah can satisfy the requirements of U.N. admission, then the request will be sent to the General Assembly for final consideration. China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, or the United States can veto the measure.
The U.S. is expected to oppose the action, as Washington has long maintained that such a decision should happen only when there is a final peace settlement with Israel. Robert Wood, a U.S. deputy ambassador, told reporters last week that “our position has not changed” regarding the unilateral move.
Israel’s foreign ministry has expressed similar sentiments.
