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Palestine revives bid to join UN as a full member state

Palestinian Ambassador to the United Nations Riyad Mansour speaks during a UN Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York on March 25, 2024. (Photo: ANGELA WEISS/AFP)

By Mwangi Maina | 03 Apr 2024

Palestinian UN envoy Riyad Mansour requested, "upon instructions of the Palestinian leadership," that an application dating back to 2011 be reconsidered this month by the Security Council.

The Palestinians have officially revived their application to become a full member state in the United Nations, as stated in a letter from their UN envoy dated Tuesday.

In the letter addressed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Palestinian UN envoy Riyad Mansour requested, "upon instructions of the Palestinian leadership," that an application dating back to 2011 be reconsidered this month by the Security Council.

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Riyad emphasised the importance of UN membership for Palestinians, especially in light of Israel's recent military offensive in the Gaza Strip.

According to observers, the Palestinian push for membership faces challenges as the United States, Israel's closest ally, could use its Security Council veto power to block the recommendation.

The State of Palestine was accepted as an observer state of the UN General Assembly in 2012, allowing its envoy to participate in debates and UN organisations but without a vote.

According to the UN Charter, states are admitted to membership in the UN by a decision of the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council.

The letter has been transmitted to the Security Council, and the Palestinians have asked that it be reviewed this month.

Riyad has repeatedly said in recent months that given Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip, UN membership is a priority for the Palestinians.

"It was the international community that decided to create two states in Palestine since 1947," he said in February.

"It is the duty of the international community along with the Palestinian people to complete that exercise by admitting the state of Palestine to membership."

Last month, he said the Palestinians would "start mobilising the largest number of countries to support us" and expressed hope that the council would act in April, pointing to a council meeting set for April 18 on the situation in Gaza.

Malta, which holds the rotating Security Council presidency, said Mansour's letter was "received and circulated" to council members, adding that talks would be held "on a way forward."

Additional reporting by AFP