U.S. Votes Against Palestinian Request for Full UN Membership at Security Council

UNITED NATIONS, Xinhua: The United States on Thursday voted against a Palestinian request for full UN membership at the Security Council.

The 15-member council voted on a draft resolution that recommends to the 193-member UN General Assembly that “the State of Palestine be admitted to membership of the United Nations.”

The draft resolution received 12 votes in favor, two abstentions, and one vote against.

A council resolution needs at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the United States, Britain, France, Russia or China to pass. The United States was compelled to use its veto power after the draft secured 12 votes in favor.

The Palestinian mission to the United Nations initially requested full UN member state status in 2011. Their first attempt failed because they did not receive the necessary minimum support of nine out of the 15 members of the Security Council.

Following their initial setback, the Palestinians approached the UN General Assembly where, in November 2012, they successfully achieved an upgrade of their status from “UN observer” to “non-member observer state” by securing more than a two-thirds majority vote.

This elevation in status enabled the Palestinian territories to join various UN and international organizations, such as the International Criminal Court.