UN Security council failed to reach consensus on whether to admit Palestine
The UN Security Council’s committee on the admission of new members has failed to reach a consensus on whether to admit Palestine as a full member of the UN. Two-thirds of the committee were in favour. However, the group could not reach the consensus required to make a recommendation to the General Assembly.
Majority of UN committee in favour of moving towards membership for Palestine: Maltese envoy
Vanessa Frazier, Malta’s Ambassador to the UN, said there was no consensus at the second meeting of the UN committee. However, she said, the majority of members were in favour of moving towards membership for Palestine.
“Many countries outlined the fact that Palestine fulfils all the criteria that are required under the Montevideo convention and also of article four of the charter,” she said. “As the chair of the committee, I have decided that I will be circulating our first draft of a report under the objection procedure, and we will see what happens next” Frazier said.
Malta currently holds the presidency of the UN Security Council.
Vote on UN Palestinian membership still ‘possibility’, but US likely to veto
It appears that once again Palestine’s bid to become a full member of the United Nations has died in the Security Council committee despite having a majority of Security Council members apparently approving the bid.
In 2011, Palestine also applied to be a full UN member, but that also died in committee. At that time, however, the General Assembly was able to elevate Palestine to the status of UN observer. That gives Palestine a lot of rights here at the UN but not, critically, the right to vote in the General Assembly, which is very important. So, Palestine essentially has been disenfranchised from this organisation that it participates in for many, many years now.
The issue could still potentially go to the Security Council in a resolution for a vote. That is still a possibility and that could come as early as next week. But the bottom line is that even if it does go that far, the US is prepared to veto it.
Spanish PM says ‘clear signs’ Europe ready to recognise Palestinian state
Pedro Sanchez made the comments after speaking to his Norwegian counterpart, Jonas Gahr Store, in Oslo as part of a diplomatic campaign to garner support for the recognition of Palestinian statehood. The Spanish prime minister is also expected to visit Ireland, Portugal, Slovenia and Belgium during his tour.
“We want to stop the humanitarian disaster in Gaza and help kickstart a political peace process leading to the realisation of the two-state solution as early as possible,” government spokeswoman Pilar Alegria previously said. On Wednesday, Sanchez said the recognition of a Palestinian state is in Europe’s “geopolitical interests”.
“The international community cannot help the Palestinian state if it does not recognise its existence,” he told members of parliament, adding that such a move was “just” and “what’s demanded by the social majority”.
The tide keeps turning, when will actions finally follow
Poll: Majority of Americans believe Israel committing genocide against Palestinians
A new survey conducted by YouGov says that 36 percent of Americans believe that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinians, compared with 34 percent who do not and 30 percent who are unsure.
Sixty-three percent of respondents expressed support for reaching a ceasefire, and 58 percent expressed their disapproval of the way Joe Biden is dealing with the war between Israel and Hamas, compared with only 23 percent who approved of it.
Regarding whether the United States should increase or reduce its military aid to Israel, 18 percent said it should be increased, while more than twice as many (37 percent) said it should be reduced.
YouGov says this survey was conducted from April 6-9 and included approximately 1,800 adult American citizens.
Destruction in Khan Younis ‘disproportionate to anything one can imagine’: WHO
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), posted on X that the WHO and partners went to Khan Younis yesterday to assess the health facilities there. He said the team described the destruction as “disproportionate to anything one can imagine”.
He said, “Attacks and hostilities have left Nasser Medical Complex, al-Amal and al-Khair hospitals non-functional. These facilities have no oxygen supply, water, electricity or sewage system”.
“The team saw that the Nasser Medical Complex warehouse – which supplies many hospitals in the south – was burning, and severely damaged. It is estimated that fire has destroyed the majority of supplies, including a substantial amount of essential medicines and medical and trauma supplies provided by WHO and partners” he said.
“The once robust health system in Gaza is broken. WHO and partners stand ready to support reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts, but we need a ceasefire,” he concluded, adding, “Nothing else can bring a lasting and humane outcome”.
