Palestinian Bid for UN Membership

Friday 23rd September sees the Palestinian Authority submit and application to the United Nations for full UN Membership.

The UN has three types of status:

1. Full Membership: According to the charter of the United Nations, “membership is open to peaceful nations that are willing and able to carry out the duties required by the charter”. Upon the recommendation of the Security Council, the General Assembly decides whether to approve a nation’s candidacy.

2. Non-Member Status: Can also be conferred, allowing certain countries, organisations or entities to benefit from collaborations with any of the UN’s specialised agencies

3. Observer: Grants permission to attend UN General Assembly meetings. The Vatican and the Palestinian Authority currently have observer status.

It is highly unlikely the bid will succeed, since Full Membership has to be voted on by the UN Security Council, and America has a veto within the Council. However, America is unable to veto any vote in the General Assembly, therefore it is more likely Palestine will be granted Non-Member status.

This would strengthen Palestine’s hand, and place significant pressure on Israel and America to concede to the Palestinian demands of statehood, along the lines of pre-1967 borders (these borders have been deemed as indefensible for Israel, in previous UN resolutions), with East-Jerusalem as the capital.

However if the bid for full membership is not pursued violence could erupt in the Palestinian areas against Israel, so either way this is a very sensitive and potentially inflammatory situation.  Pray for God’s wisdom over all the leaders of the United Nations and particularly Netanyahu and Abbas to reach agreement outside of the United Nations forum.