Arab states expressed their frustration today, Friday, over the United States’ use of veto power against Palestine’s full membership in the United Nations following the Security Council’s failure to accept it. This comes as Algeria announced its intention to reapply on behalf of the Arab Group in the Council to grant Palestine full membership.
Official statements from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Algeria, and Palestine conveyed their disappointment after the United States vetoed an Arab resolution at the Security Council calling for Palestine’s full membership in the UN. Despite 12 Security Council members voting in favor of the resolution on Thursday evening and Switzerland and Britain abstaining, Washington’s veto was sufficient to defeat it.
Saudi Arabia, in a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed regret over the Security Council’s failure to accept Palestine’s full membership in the UN, considering it as contributing to the perpetuation of Israeli violations of international law without repercussions, and unlikely to bring about the desired peace.
Egypt, in a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed deep regret over the Security Council’s failure, due to the United States’ veto, to issue a resolution enabling Palestine to obtain full membership in the United Nations, emphasizing the critical timing amid the Palestinian issue reaching a critical juncture.
Jordan also expressed its profound regret over the Security Council’s failure to adopt a resolution accepting Palestine as a full member of the United Nations, following the American rejection.
The Arab states emphasized the international community’s responsibility to halt Israeli attacks on civilians in Gaza, support the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, and establish their Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Algeria reaffirmed its intention to reapply for Palestine’s full membership, expressing confidence in broader support from UN members. This was stated by its permanent representative to the organization, Ambassador Amar Benjamia, following the American veto.
The Palestinian presidency condemned the US veto, describing it as unfair, unethical, and unjustified, challenging the will of the international community, which strongly supports Palestine’s full membership in the United Nations.
Hamas condemned what it termed the US biased position towards the occupation in the strongest terms, calling on the international community to overcome American will and support our people’s legitimate struggle for self-determination.
On the other hand, Israeli Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz praised the US veto, congratulating them for exercising their veto power.
It’s worth noting that Palestine attained non-member observer state status at the United Nations after a resolution was adopted by the General Assembly by a large majority on November 29, 2012. Palestine applied for full membership in 2011 but did not receive sufficient support at that time to advance to the voting stage in the Security Council. Palestine hoped that its application this time would be accepted, benefiting from a growing international stance in recent times on the necessity of recognizing a Palestinian statehood as a means to advance the Middle East peace process, amidst Israel’s seven-month-long war on Gaza and a right-wing Israeli government refusing the two-state solution.
