New York, 19 April 2024 (TDI): The United States (US) vetoed a draft resolution in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) aimed at preventing Palestine from being granted full membership in the UN.
In the UN draft represented by Algeria, 12 members were in favor, two abstained (Britain and Switzerland) from the vote, and one (the United States) vetoed the draft resolution for UN membership to allow Palestine to join as a full Member state.
US Deputy Representative’s Remarks
US Deputy Representative Robert Wood said, “This vote does not reflect opposition to Palestinian statehood, but instead is an acknowledgment that it will only come from direct negotiations between Palestine and Israel.”
Moreover, he said, the US continues to support a two-state solution between Palestine and Israel.
In addition, he said, the State should fulfill the standards for a considered state.
In response to this, he said, “We have long called on the Palestinian Authority to undertake necessary reforms to help establish the attributes of readiness for statehood and note that Hamas, a terrorist organization, is currently exerting power and influence in Gaza – an integral part of the State envisioned in this resolution.”
Palestinian observer Mansour Remarks
Observer Mansour condemned the US veto. He said this is “unfair, unethical, and unjustified.”
Observer Mansour said, “Our people’s right to self-determination has never once been subject to bargaining or negotiation.”
Moreover, he said that it is our legal right to live in our homeland, Palestine as an independent state.
Additionally, he said, “We came to the Security Council today as an important historic moment, regionally and internationally, so that we could salvage what can be saved. We place you before a historic responsibility to establish the foundations of a just and comprehensive peace in our region.”
Lastly, he said, “The fact that this resolution did not pass will not break our will and it will not defeat our determination. We will not stop in our effort.”
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World stance on US vetoed UNSC resolution
China’s Ambassador to the UN Fu Cong called on the members of the UNSC he said, “to take a responsible attitude in light of history and cast a favorable vote to support Palestine joining the UN family as a full member.”
Foreign Minister of Algeria Ahmed Attaf said,” Full membership of the UN for Palestine is a “historical right,” and failure to grant it will guarantee the Arab-Israeli conflict is prolonged.”
Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said, “The US once again demonstrated what they think of the Palestinians.”
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Additionally, he said, “Today’s use of the veto by the US delegation is a hopeless attempt to stop the inevitable course of history. The results of the vote, where Washington was practically in complete isolation, speak for themselves.”
