Palestine's fate at the un hinges on security council's approval: MOFA

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) stated that approval from the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) was the key to realizing full membership status for Palestine that is currently still a non-member observer state.

However, according to the ministry's spokesperson, Lalu Muhammad Iqbal, Palestine has not succeeded in becoming a full member of the UN due to the rejection of its bid by several permanent member countries of the UNSC.

"Because there are still UN Security Council countries that have veto rights that do not agree with granting recognition of full member status to Palestine," Iqbal remarked in a media briefing, Wednesday (May 29).

Hence, it will be difficult to get full support from all members of the UNSC, he pointed out.

The rejection has become a stumbling block for Palestine, as the increase in its status must first be approved by the UNSC, which has yet to be achieved.

In fact, the spokesman stated that more and more countries are recognizing Palestinian sovereignty, as recently stated by Norway, Ireland, and Spain.

In addition, UN General Assembly Resolution Number ES-10/23, which was approved by 143 UN member states on May 10 this year, reflects the international community's broad support for Palestine's membership in the world organization.

Only nine countries, including the US and Israel, rejected the resolution granting Palestinians the privilege of full membership in the General Assembly, while 25 other countries abstained.

"We know that in the UN General Assembly, the system is one country, one vote, so no one has privileges there like in the UN Security Council," Iqbal stated.

So, if you ask, where are the obstacles? (The answer) is at the UN Security Council," he emphasized.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, during a meeting with President of the 78th United Nations General Assembly Dennis Francis in Bali on Sunday (May 19), welcomed the ratification of Resolution ES-10/23.

The minister stated that the resolution was an important step in the efforts to promote equal rights for Palestine among world countries.

Marsudi affirmed that the next step is to ensure sustainable peace is realized, the delivery of humanitarian aid runs smoothly without obstacles, and Palestine achieves full membership status in the UN.