EU reacts as UNGA voted in favour of Palestinian membership

The European Union has acknowledged the result of the momentous vote on Friday at the United Nations General Assembly concerning Palestinian application for membership of the United Nations where a majority of States voted in favour.

According to the statement issued by the Commission High Representative, Josep Borell stating that Palestine has received unequivocal support to have its permanent observer status augmented with additional rights and privileges.

On this vein, the EU recalled its longstanding commitment to a just, comprehensive resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, based on the two- state solution, with the State of Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous, sovereign, and viable State of Palestine.

Living side by side in peace and security and mutual recognition, and with Jerusalem serving as the future capital of both states, recommitted to continue its strong support to Palestinian state building, and strengthening Palestinian institutions and their capacity in preparation for future statehood.

He said it is vital to restore a political horizon towards a two-state solution, stating that the EU stands ready to work with Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and regional and international parties toward this goal.

The UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly on Friday (May 10) in support of a Palestinian bid for full membership of the world body, a symbolic move after the United States vetoed the measure in the Security Council.

The resolution, which states that the Palestinians should be admitted to the UN and grants them some additional rights as observers, received 143 votes for, 9 against and 25 abstentions.

With the war in Gaza raging, the Palestinians in April relaunched a request dating back to 2011 to become full members of the United Nations, where their current status is that of a “nonmember observer state.”

To succeed, the initiative needed a Security Council green light and then a two-thirds majority vote in the General Assembly.

But the United States – one of five veto-holding members on the Security Council and Israel’s closest ally – blocked it on Apr 18.

The resolution, introduced by the United Arab Emirates, says: “The State of Palestine is qualified for membership in the United Nations in accordance with Article 4 of the Charter and should therefore be admitted.”

Oluwaseun Sonde: Managing Editor, Nigeria, a renowned journalist with multitask functionality, member of the Association of Corporate Online Editor (ACOE). Email: admin@mediabypassnews.com
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