US vetoes Palestinian bid to gain statehood at UN
The United States has utilized its veto power to block a Palestinian bid for full membership in the United Nations (UN), effectively stalling the global body's recognition of Palestine as a state. Twelve UN Security Council members voted in favor of admitting Palestine as a member state, while the United Kingdom and Switzerland abstained. According to the Times of Israel, the US first sought to persuade Palestine to suspend the measure before appealing to other members to reject or abstain.
US clarifies position on Palestinian statehood
Following the vote, Deputy US Ambassador to the UN, Robert Wood, clarified America's stance. He stated that "The United States continues to strongly support a two-state solution." Wood further explained that the vote "does not reflect opposition to Palestinian statehood," but rather signifies an acknowledgment that statehood can only be achieved through direct negotiations between the parties involved.
Palestinian Authority and Israel react to US veto
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas voiced his disapproval of the US veto, labeling it "unfair, immoral, and unjustified." On the other hand, Israel's Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, praised the US for blocking what he termed a "shameful proposal." Katz linked the bid to recognize Palestine as a state with recent acts of terrorism, describing it as "a reward for terrorism."
Palestine is currently a non-member observer at the UN
Palestinian attempts to become a full member state began in 2011. It is currently a non-member observer state, a status that was granted in November 2012. After gaining non-member observer status in 2012, the Palestinians have sought to become the 194th member of the UN multiple times. An application to become a full UN member needs to be approved by the UNSC, followed by at least two-thirds of the General Assembly.
Bid came 6 months after Israel-Hamas war
The Palestinians' efforts to acquire UN membership came six months after Hamas, the militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, launched an unprecedented onslaught on Israel, killing over 1,200 Israelis and kidnapping over 240. Israel responded to the horrors of October 7 last year with an assault that has killed approximately 34,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry.
