US blocks Palestine’s UN membership bid

America was the sole Security Council member who voted against the resolution on Thursday

The US has vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that would have paved a way for Palestine to become a member of the global body. Palestine is currently a “permanent observer state” at the UN that participates in many meetings but does not have voting rights.

The draft resolution debated on Friday contained a recommendation to the UN General Assembly to hold a vote on updating Palestine’s status within the organization. The document was rejected with 12 votes in favor, one vote against, and two abstentions.

US Alternative Representative for Special Political Affairs Robert Wood said that “there are unresolved questions as to whether [Palestine] meets the criteria to be considered a state.” He argued that Palestine cannot be admitted to the UN as long as the militant group Hamas controls the Gaza Strip.

Wood stressed that Washington continues to support the two-state solution for Israel and Palestine. “This vote does not reflect opposition to Palestinian statehood, but instead is an acknowledgement that it will only come from direct negotiations between the parties,” he said in a statement.

DETAILS TO FOLLOW