The United Nations General Assembly is scheduled to vote on Friday on strengthening the rights of Palestinians within the UN’s largest body. The current draft resolution grants the previous observer state of Palestine significantly expanded participation in the sessions of the General Assembly, but does not give it regular voting rights. Acceptance would also increase pressure for full membership.
The text states that the General Assembly determines that the “State of Palestine (…) should be admitted to membership in the United Nations” – the UN Security Council, which is responsible for this, should “reconsider the matter favorably”. The draft resolution is available to the German Press Agency – it may change as negotiations continue.
Against the backdrop of the Gaza war, the initiative in the UN General Assembly with 193 members in New York also reflects international sentiment on the Middle East conflict. Diplomats assume that the resolution will easily achieve the necessary majority of two thirds of all votes cast. Influential countries such as the United States, China and Russia fear a loss of control in the upgrading of regions whose statehood is controversial. There could also be calls in the USA – Israel’s closest ally – to stop funding for the general assembly. Of the 193 UN member states, more than 130 have so far recognized Palestine as an independent state. Austria and the USA are not included.