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More than half Security Council members support Palestine’s admission to UN

© RIA NovostiMore than half Security Council members support Palestine’s admission to UN
More than half Security Council members support Palestine’s admission to UN - Sputnik International
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A total of eight out of fifteen members of the UN Security Council support Palestine’s admission to the UN, secretary-general of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Yasser Abed Rabbo, said on Wednesday.

A total of eight out of fifteen members of the UN Security Council support Palestine’s admission to the UN, secretary-general of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Yasser Abed Rabbo, said on Wednesday.

Security Council decisions require the approval of at least nine of the 15 members, and no vetoes from the five permanent members (Russia, USA, France, Britain or China), in order to pass. The United States, however, has repeatedly stated its intention to block the adoption of Palestine.

According to Rabbo, Palestinians are counting on the support of Russia, China, Brazil, India, South Africa, Lebanon, Nigeria and Gabon. A discussion of Palestine’s request will begin in the Security Council on November 11.

If the United States uses its veto power, the Palestinians can still ask the General Assembly to elevate their UN status from an observer to a "non-state member," which some analysts say would enable them to challenge the continuing construction of Israeli settlements on the occupied Palestinian land in the International Criminal Court. A total of 131 UN member states, making up more than two-thirds of the organization's members, have recognized an independent Palestinian state.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is the first UN body to recognize Palestine since its statehood bid in the United Nations in September, which was ultimately vetoed by the United States in the Security Council.

Last week, the United States cut off funding of UNESCO after the UN body supported Palestine's accession bid. UNESCO granted full membership to Palestine with 107 member states voted in favor and 14 against.

Most in the U.S. Congress say that Palestine should begin seeking membership in international organizations only after the completion of peaceful talks with Israel.

Before the vote to grant full membership to the Palestinian National Autonomy (PNA), the United States and Israel threatened to cut off funding for UNESCO in response. Last week, Israel refused to accept UNESCO's decision and threatened retaliatory measures.

The United States and Canada also froze their UNESCO funding last week.

Palestinian authorities said they will be seeking membership in 16 more international organizations.

Palestine's membership in the UN cultural body comes a month after it filed a statehood membership bid in the United Nations, which was later blocked by a U.S. veto in the Security Council.

 

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