Members of the UN Security Council have failed to reach a consensus on the Palestinian bid to become a full member state of the United Nations.
Two-thirds of the council’s members were in favor of full Palestinian membership, but “there was no consensus” during the closed-door meeting held on Thursday, said Maltese Ambassador Vanessa Frazier, who holds the UNSC’s rotating presidency for April.
Last week, Palestinians revived a 2011 application for a full UN membership, which would amount to recognition of Palestinian statehood in light of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.
This prompted the UNSC to launch a formal review process through the ad hoc committee, which was composed of the council’s member states and met on Thursday.
Palestine has been recognized as a “non-member observer state” of the UN since 2012
After the Thursday meeting, a more formal council vote is expected.
AFP quoted diplomatic sources as saying that a vote could be held on April 18, brought forth by Algeria which represents Arab nations on the UNSC.
Even if the bid were to receive the necessary nine of 15 votes, observers predict a veto from Israel’s staunch ally, the United States.
“All we ask for is to take our rightful place among the community of nations,” Palestinian UN envoy Riyad Mansour told reporters earlier this week.
The Israeli atrocities in Gaza have increased sympathy towards Palestinians and international calls for the recognition of the State of Palestine.
Australia FM defends Palestinian statehood stance
On Friday, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong defended her remarks that she made earlier this week that was seen as a hint that Australia could recognize the Palestinian statehood in the near-term.
She said the so-called “two-state” solution was the “longstanding” and “bipartisan” position of Australia and that it is the “only pathway to enduring peace in the region.”
“What I did was set out the reasons for why a Palestinian state is important for Israel’s security and I made the point that this was a matter being discussed in the international community,” Wong told Sky News Australia.
Wong on Tuesday said that the recognition of a Palestinian state would pave the way for an end to violence in the West Asia region.
The Israeli regime launched the war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas waged the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli intensified violence against Palestinians.
Since the start of the offensive, the Tel Aviv regime has killed 33,545 Palestinians and injured nearly 76,094 others.
