On Thursday members of the UN Security Council failed to reach a consensus on a bid by Palestinians for full UN membership, meaning the effort is now likely headed for a more formal council vote.
Since 2012 the Palestinians, who have had observer status at the world body have lobbied for years to get full membership, which would amount to recognition of Palestinian statehood.
Any request to become a UN member state must first pass through the Security Council where Israel’s ally the United States wields a veto and then be inscribed by the General Assembly.
Last week, Palestinians revived a 2011 UN membership application, encouraging the Security Council to launch a formal review process. This comprised of the ad hoc committee that failed to reach consensus and was composed of the council’s member states.
Maltese Ambassador Vanessa Frazier who holds the council’s rotating presidency for April said, ‘There was no consensus during its closed-door meeting’.
She added, ‘Two-thirds of the members were in favor of full membership without specifying which countries’. Frazier added, ‘While the ad hoc committee can only move forward by consensus. Any security council member may now put forth a resolution for a vote on the matter.
According to the media sources, ‘A vote could be held on April 18, brought forth by Algeria which represents Arab nations on the Council’. Even if the matter were to receive nine of 15 votes, observers predict a veto from the United States.
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