The United Nations General Assembly recently held a vote on granting additional rights and privileges to Palestine. The vote resulted in a 143-9 outcome, with 25 abstentions. It is important to note that this decision does not grant Palestine full member-state status at the UN, as it still requires approval from the UN Security Council, which was blocked by a US veto last month.

Despite not achieving full membership, this resolution elevates the privileges of Palestine within the UN. These new privileges are both symbolic, such as being seated amongst Member States, and practical, including the right to submit proposals. However, it is crucial to understand that Palestine will not have a vote in the General Assembly and cannot become a member of important UN bodies like the Security Council or ECOSOC.

Recently, an annex letter was added to address concerns regarding the impact of this vote on UN funding. A 1990 US law states that US funds cannot be provided to any UN entity that grants the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) the same status as a member state. Therefore, this clarification was necessary to ensure that UN funding is not jeopardized.

While this vote signifies a significant symbolic victory for Palestine and demonstrates widespread international support, it is important to note that these privileges primarily apply within the UN system and may not have an immediate impact on the situation on the ground.

Prof. Dr. Sheikh Asif S. Mizan
Vice Chancellor
Daaru Salaam University
Mogadishu Somalia