The United Nations General Assembly voted Tuesday by an overwhelming majority to grant the Palestinian Authority nearly all of the rights and privileges tendered a member state, without officially voting to approve membership for the entity as a state.
The so-called UN “Enabling Resolution” – Resolution A/73/L.5 – was advanced in order to make it possible for the Palestinian Authority to legally do its job as chair of the UN “Group of 77″ – a coalition of developing Member States at the UN – to which it was appointed this past July, even though it was completely illegal, and completely unqualified.
The resolution was opposed only by the United States, Israel and Australia. Fifteen other members abstained. Unbelievably, 146 other member states in the United Nations General Assembly voted to temporarily grant the “State of Palestine” the right to co-sponsor proposals and amendments, to make statements, and raise procedural motions – despite its non-member observer nation status.
“The United States does not recognize a Palestinian state, notes that no such state has been admitted as a UN Member State, and does not believe that the Palestinians are eligible to be admitted as a UN Member State,” said U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley.
“The U.S. strongly opposes the Palestinian election as Chair of the G77, as well as the so-called enabling resolution in the UN General Assembly.
“The Palestinians are not a UN Member State or any state at all. The United States will continually point that out in our remarks at UN events led by the Palestinians.
“Today’s UN mistake undermines the prospects for peace by encouraging the illusion held by some Palestinian leaders that they can advance their goals without direct peace negotiations. In fact, today’s vote does nothing to help the Palestinian people,” Haley said.