Bloc chair vote dubbed a ‘mistake’

GENEVA: The Palestinians won backing on Tuesday to lead the biggest bloc of developing countries at the United Nations, raising their profile at the world body despite opposition from the United States.

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 UN.

A resolution drafted by Egypt was adopted by a vote of 146 to 3, with 15 abstentions. The US, 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 “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.

“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 Ms Haley.

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.

The measure does not change the status of the Palestinians, considered a non-member observer state at the UN without voting rights at the General Assembly.

Only UN member-states with full recognition should be entitled to speak and act on behalf of groups of countries, US Deputy Ambassador Jonathan Cohen told the assembly.

Mr Cohen warned that the US will not recognise the Palestinians in their new UN role.

“When the Palestinians speak as chair of the G77 in the General Assembly, we will remind our fellow member-states that the US does not recognise that there is a Palestinian state and that no such state has been admitted as a UN member state,” he said.

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 have been effective in pushing their agenda as the biggest bloc.