India Supports UN Resolution For Palestine's Full Membership Bid

A draft UN General Assembly resolution declaring that Palestine is qualified and should be admitted as a full member of the United Nations, and recommending that the Security Council "reconsider" the matter "favourably", was voted in favour by India among other nations, on Friday.

The resolution, which was presented by the United Arab Emirates on behalf of the Arab Group, received 143 votes in favour, with nine votes against and 25 abstentions. An applause was heard in the UNGA hall following the vote, as reported by PTI.

Photo Credit: PTI

India in UN: Supports Palestine's Full Membership Bid

It was affirmed by the resolution that "the State of Palestine is qualified for membership in the United Nations" and a recommendation was made for the Security Council to "reconsider the matter favourably".

The historical support of India for Palestine was highlighted, including the recognition of the Palestine Liberation Organisation in 1974 and the State of Palestine in 1988. India's Permanent Representative to the UN expressed hope that Palestine's membership application would be reconsidered.

The resolution detailed additional rights and privileges for Palestine's participation in UN activities, effective from the 79th session of the General Assembly starting in September 2024.

These rights include the right to be seated among member states in alphabetical order, the right to make statements on behalf of a group, the right to elect members of the delegation of the State of Palestine as officers, and the right to full and effective participation in UN and international conferences and meetings convened under the auspices of the General Assembly, a reported by PTI.

Palestine, currently an observer state, does not have the right to vote in the General Assembly or to put forward its candidature to UN organs. In April, a letter was sent by Palestine to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres requesting that its application for full UN membership be considered again.

For a state to be granted full UN membership, its application must be approved by both the Security Council and the General Assembly, where a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting is required for admission as a full member.

Last month, a resolution in the Security Council on the Palestinian bid to be granted full membership of the United Nations was vetoed by the US. The 15-nation Council had voted on a draft resolution that would have recommended to the 193-member UN General Assembly "that the State of Palestine be admitted to membership in the United Nations".

The resolution received 12 votes in its favour, with Switzerland and the UK abstaining, and the US casting its veto. Adoption of the draft resolution required at least nine Council members voting in favour, with no vetoes by any of its five permanent members - China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, as reported by PTI.

Currently, Palestine is a "non-member observer state" at the UN, a status granted to it by the General Assembly in 2012. This status allows Palestine to participate in proceedings of the world body but it cannot vote on resolutions. The only other non-member observer state at the UN is the Holy See, representing the Vatican.