In a significant move at the United Nations, India has thrown its weight behind a draft resolution advocating for Palestine’s full membership in the international body. The vote took place during an emergency special session of the 193-member UN General Assembly held on Friday.
The resolution, titled ‘Admission of new Members to the United Nations’, was presented by the United Arab Emirates on behalf of the Arab Group. It garnered overwhelming support with 143 votes in favor, notably including India, while nine member states voted against and 25 abstained. The General Assembly erupted into applause following the affirmative vote.
Emphasizing that “the State of Palestine is qualified for membership in the United Nations,” the resolution urged the Security Council to reconsider the matter favorably in accordance with Article 4 of the UN Charter.
India’s backing of the resolution underscores its longstanding support for Palestine. Notably, India was one of the first non-Arab nations to recognize the Palestine Liberation Organization as the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people in 1974. In subsequent years, India further solidified its stance by recognizing the State of Palestine in 1988 and establishing diplomatic representation in Gaza in 1996.
India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, reiterated India’s support for Palestine’s UN membership bid, expressing hope that the Security Council would reconsider the matter in due course.
The resolution also outlines the additional rights and privileges Palestine would receive upon full membership, effective from the 79th session of the General Assembly in September. These rights include participation in assembly proceedings, making statements on behalf of groups, and eligibility for election as officers.
This development comes after Palestine’s recent request to the UN Secretary-General to reconsider its application for full UN membership. The Security Council’s previous attempt to address the issue was thwarted by a US veto last month.
Presently, Palestine holds the status of a “non-member observer state” at the UN, a position it has held since 2012. While this status allows participation in UN proceedings, full membership remains a longstanding goal for Palestine in its quest for international recognition.
For full UN membership to be granted, approval from both the Security Council and the General Assembly is required, with a two-thirds majority vote in the latter. Palestine’s journey toward full UN membership continues to be a focal point of international diplomacy and solidarity efforts.
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