NEW YORK: The member states of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Thursday failed to reach a consensus on a request by Palestinians for full UN Membership.
The Palestinians, who currently have observer status at the global body since 2012, have lobbied for years to obtain full membership, which means recognition of Palestinian statehood.
According to the UN procedures any request to become a UN member state must be approved by the Security Council and then be endorsed by the General Assembly.
After Israel’s military offensive in the Gaza Strip, Palestinians revived a 2011 UN membership application last week.
Maltese Ambassador Vanessa Frazier, who holds the Security Council’s rotating presidency for April, said during its closed-door meeting there was no consensus on the matter.
Two-thirds of UNSC members favor full membership of Palestinians
She said, however, two-thirds of the members were in favor of full membership of Palestinians, without naming the countries.
According to diplomatic sources, a vote on the issue could be held on April 18, brought forth by Algeria which represents Arab nations on the Council.
Even if the issue were to receive the required nine of 15 votes, analysts predict a veto from the United States.
Washington believes the United Nations is not the right forum for accepting Palestinian statehood. It says the dispute should be resolved through an agreement between Palestinians and Israel.
Palestinian UN envoy Riyad Mansour earlier this week said that they were just asking for a rightful place among the community of nations.
The Gaza war started after Hamas’s unprecedented October 7 attack against Israel.
According to the Gaza health ministry Israel’s relentless bombardment has killed at least 33,545 people in Gaza, mostly women and children.
