The Palestinian Authority’s quest for full United Nations membership may be short-lived, as the US has signaled it will veto the measure if it comes to a vote.
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told the press on Wednesday that prior discussions with Israel are necessary to support PA membership.
“We have always made clear that, while we support the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, that is something that should be done through direct negotiations through the parties—something we are pursuing at this time—and not at the United Nations,” said Miller.
PA President Mahmoud Abbas originally applied for UN membership in 2011, but it was rejected by the UN Security Council. The next year, though, the UN General Assembly gave it a limited role as an observer with the title “State of Palestine.”
On Monday, PA UN envoy Riyad Mansour sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres requesting that the 2011 application be reconsidered.
The PA needs to first gain support from at least 9 of the 15 members of the Security Council. Afterward, achieving full membership status requires a two-thirds majority approval from the General Assembly.
