UN vote raises Palestinians’ status
America criticises decision and says it is a mistake by the world body
UNITED NATIONS: The 193-member United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Tuesday allowed the Palestinians to act more like a full UN member state during meetings in 2019 when they will chair the group of 77 developing nations.
A resolution drafted by Egypt was adopted by a vote of 146 to 3 with 15 abstentions. The United States, Israel and Australia were the only three countries to oppose the measure in the 193-nation assembly.
There were 15 abstentions and 29 countries didn’t vote.
US Ambassador Nikki Haley branded the decision a “UN mistake,” recalling that the “Palestinians are not a UN member state or any state at all” and should not be granted privileges reserved for full-fledged members.
“We cannot support efforts by the Palestinians to enhance their status outside of direct negotiations. The United States does not recognise that there is a Palestinian state,” US Deputy UN Ambassador Jonathan Cohen told the General Assembly.
The Palestinians want to establish a state in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem.
NATIONS: The Palestinians won backing on Tuesday to lead the biggest bloc of developing countries at the United Nations, RAISING THEIR proile At the world body despite opposition from the United States.
The 193-member United Nations General Assemblyy allowed the Palestinians to act more like a full UN member state during meetings in 2019 when they will chair the group of 77 developing nations.
The General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to grant the observer-state of Palestine temporary rights to act as chair of the Group of 77 plus China, a bloc that has grown to 134 countries at the United Nations.
TAKING THE loor, PALESTINIAN Ambassador Riyad Mansour pledged to “spare no effort” to defend the interests of the G77 and to work “constructively with all partners.”
THE G77 AND CHINA ARE Inluential on budgetary issues at the assembly and have been effective in pushing their agenda as the biggest bloc.
A resolution drafted by Egypt was adopted by a vote of 146 to 3 with 15 abstentions. The United States, Israel and Australia were the only three countries to oppose the measure in the 193-nation assembly.
US Ambassador Nikki Haley branded the decision a “UN mistake,” recalling that the “Palestinians are not a UN member state or any state at all” and should not be granted privileges reserved For FULL-LEDGED members.
“Today’s UN mistake undermines the prospects for peace by encouraging the illusion held by some Palestinian leaders that they can advance their goals without direct peace negotiations,” said Haley in a statement.
The result came as no surprise as the G77 had agreed last month to give the Palestinians the chair and could easily garner enough support in the General Assembly to win approval for the measure.
The resolution gives the Palestinians, who take up the year-long chair in January, additional rights such as the authority to submit proposals on behalf of the G77 and request that they be put to the vote.
Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes struck the Gaza Strip on Wednesday after the first rocket fire from the Palestinian territory in weeks hit an Israeli city, in a blow to efforts to avert a new war.
HAMAS DISAVOWED THE rocket ire, saying they rejected “all irresponsible attempts” to undermine Egyptian efforts to broker a new long-term truce.
But Israel, which holds Hamas responsible For All rocket ire From THE territory regardless of who launches it, struck 20 targets in Gaza, killing one Palestinian, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
Israel also closed both its border crossings with Gaza in reprisal, further isolating the blockaded enclave where deteriorating living conditions have stoked violent protests along the border.
The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) chief prosecutor warned on Wednesday she was keeping a “close eye” on the situation in the volatile Gaza Strip and would not hesitate to act if necessary.
The ICC launched a preliminary probe in 2015 into allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Israel and the Palestinian territories, in the wake of the Gaza war.
ICC’S Chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda’s said in a statement from The Hague-based court that she was “alarmed by the continued violence, perpetrated by actors on both sides, at the Gaza border with Israel.”
“As prosecutor seized of the situation in Palestine, I therefore feel compelled to remind all parties that the situation remains under preliminary Examination By my OFICE,” SHE ADDED.
“I continue to keep a close eye on the developments on the ground and will not hesitate to take any appropriate action.”
Bensouda also issued a warning on Wednesday that if Israel goes ahead and destroys a Palestinian Bedouin village on the West Bank that could constitute a war crime.
Israel’s Supreme Court recently REJECTED A inal Appeal AGAINST plans to demolish the village, Khan Al Ahmar.
Bensouda said in a written statement that “evacuation by force now appears imminent.”
She added: “It bears recalling, as a general matter, that extensive destruction of property without military necessity and population transfers in an occupied territory constitute war crimes” under the Rome Statute treaty that established the ICC.