India has voted in favour of a proposed resolution at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that demanded Palestine’s full participation in the United Nations Council.
On Friday, the 193 representatives of different countries gathered for an emergency meeting at the United Nations General Assembly, in which the UAE (United Arab Emirates), which is the representative for the Arab Group, presented a new resolution of the Arab Group that requires the admission of new members to the United Nations.
What Does The Resolution Say?
An attachment to the resolution said that the State of Palestine’s new membership rights and privileges will take place with the upcoming 79th session of the General Assembly, which begins in September.
The attached also gives the right to be seated among neighboring states in alphabetical order; the right to speak on behalf of the group, which includes representatives of crucial groups; the right for the members of the representatives of the State of Palestine to be chosen as officers in the session and main bodies of the General Assembly; and also the right for the State of Palestine’s full and effective participation in international conferences and meetings that are met under the direction of the UN General Assembly.
India Votes In Favor For The Resolution
The resolution got 143 votes in favour – which included India’s vote- nine countries against the resolution, and 25 absentees. After the voting was done, the UNGA Hall broke into applause for the members of the State of Palestine.
The resolution made it clear to the representatives of the State of Palestine that they have passed the qualification to become a member of the United Nations, as per Article 4 of the United Nations Constitution, and stated that ‘should therefore be admitted to membership in the United Nations.’
The Ministry of External affairs stated that ‘We have supported a negotiated two-state solution, towards establishment of a sovereign, independent and viable state of Palestine within secure and recognised borders, living side by side in peace with Israel.’
India became the first non-Arabian country to recongnize the Palestinian Liberation Organization in 1974 and they regarded it as the sole and only legitimate representation for the Palestinian people. They were also the first country to recongnize Palestine in 1988 and 1996 when the Indian captial opened their first representatives office in Gaza, Palestine which was later shifted to Ramallah in 2003.
Palestinian and Israeli Authorities’ Response on the Passing of the Resolution
After the resolution was accepted and passed, Riyad Mansour the Palestinian ambassador stated that ‘As we speak, 1.4 million Palestinians in Rafah wonder if they will survive today.’
#Gaza: the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly passed a resolution which upgrades Palestine’s rights at the world body as an Observer State, without offering full membership (1/2)
OUR STORY➡️ https://t.co/YuqV4SgIoT pic.twitter.com/sdSP0ffQhw
— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) May 10, 2024
He also personally thanked the protesters on the US university campus and the people who are living around the world for their demonstration and revolt against the Israel-Hamas war. He said that their flag flies triumphantly in Palestine and all around the world, especially on the campuses of Columbia University and Harvard University. He also thanked the people and said that the protest has become a symbol of freedom, and it is ruled by those authorities who always decide to give justice to their people.
On the other hand, Israel Katz, the Foreign Minister for Israel criticised the resolution by describing it as a ‘terrible decision’ and he also said that this showed UN’s structural prejudice to them and rewards to Hamas for their actions on October 7.
He said that the decision to make Palestine an official member of the UN (United Nations) is one of the decisions that let Hamas terrorists feel relief for their consequences after they committed the largest massacre in their country since the Holocaust.
US Authorities on the Resolution
Last month, the US rejected a resolution in the UN Security Council that granted UN membership to Palestine since the veto required at least nine council members and was done by none. Robert Wood, the US Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations, also criticized the resolution and stated it as ‘unproductive‘.
He believes and says that the correct path to peace between both countries is through direct communications between Palestinian and Israeli authorities.
