U.N. GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPROVES

PALESTINIAN BID FOR MEMBERSHIP

On May 10, 2024, The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) voted to grant Palestine new "rights and privileges" and determined that the State of Palestine is qualified for such status. The General Assembly, recognizing the importance of the Security Council's role, also called on it to "reconsider the matter favorably" in its request to allow the State of Palestine to become the 194th member of the United Nations. The General Assembly approved the Arab and Palestinian-sponsored resolution with a vote of 143-9, and 25 chose to abstain. The United States, Israel, Argentina, Czechia, Hungary, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, and Papua New Guinea voted against it.

These rights and privileges include being seated among Member States in alphabetical order, being able to make statements on behalf of a group, submitting proposals and amendments and introducing them, the ability to co-sponsor proposals and amendments (including on behalf of a group), Propose items to be included in the provisional agenda of the regular or special sessions, and request the inclusion of supplementary or additional items in the agenda of regular or special sessions, the right of members of the delegation of the State of Palestine to be elected as officers in the plenary and the Main Committees of the General Assembly, and lastly, full and effective participation in UN conferences and international conferences and meetings convened under the auspices of the General Assembly or, as appropriate, of other UN organizations.

UN General Assembly presses Security Council to give ‘favourable consideration’ to full Palestinian membership (UN News, 5-10-24)

UN assembly approves resolution granting Palestine new rights and reviving its UN membership bid (AP News, 5-10-24)

United Nations General Assembly backs Palestinian bid for membership (Al Jazeera, 5-10-24)