A number of countries criticized and expressed disappointment with the United States (US) over the failure of the United Nations to recognize Palestine's membership. As is known, the failure was caused by the US veto at the UN Security Council on Thursday (18/4/2024).
The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs regrets the US action. "Indonesia deeply regrets the failure of the UN Security Council for the umpteenth time to pass a resolution regarding full membership of Palestine in the UN, due to a veto by one of the Permanent Members of the UN Security Council," read a statement from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in an upload on X, Friday (19/4/2024), as stated reported by CNN Indonesia.
The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that progress towards full membership of Palestine has been stalled since the country obtained UN observer state status in 2012. In fact, Palestine has received full support from the majority of UN member states.
"This veto once again betrays our shared aspirations to create long-term peace in the Middle East," wrote the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian said the US veto had destroyed the dreams of the Palestinian people. “Yet another US veto that rejects Palestine's full membership in the UN and destroys the dream of the Palestinian people that has persisted for decades. "History and world society will not forget this senseless act," said Lin Jian at a regular press conference in Beijing on Friday (19/4/2024).
This draft resolution was initiated by Algeria containing the UNSC recommendation to the General Assembly to accept Palestine as a full member. “An independent Palestinian state has been a long-standing dream for generations of Palestinians. "Full UN membership for Palestine is an important step in this historic process," said Lin Jian.
Palestine, according to Lin Jian, first applied for membership in 2011. At that time, Palestine's membership was also postponed due to rejection from the US and 13 years later this happened again.
Malaysia expressed deep concern over the US action in vetoing the Palestinian resolution at the UN Security Council. “The veto move on this important issue has called into question the sincere desire of the council members who implemented it to realize the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination dating back to decades of illegal Israeli occupation and war in the West Bank region, Gaza , and East Jerusalem since 1947," read a statement from the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, posted on Platform X.
Pakistan also expressed similar disappointment through its Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch. "We regret the US decision to veto the draft resolution granting full UN membership to Palestine," Baloch told reporters in Islamabad, as reported by Anadolu.
He added that the time had come for Palestine to be accepted at the UN. “This will be a step towards redressing the historic injustice suffered by the Palestinian people for more than 75 years. This would affirm their right to self-determination. "The Palestinian people have the inherent right to live in a sovereign, independent and contiguous State of Palestine within the borders of 4 June 1967 and with Al-Quds Al-Shareef as its capital," he said.
The resolution recognizing Palestine's membership in the UN was vetoed by the US at a Security Council meeting last Thursday. A total of 1 vote supported the resolution, and two countries abstained, namely England and Switzerland.
