A United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution was passed on Friday, with 143 votes in favor, nine votes against, and 25 abstaining, calling on the UN Security Council to reconsider Palestinian membership to the UN.
The resolution urges the Security Council to 'reconsider the matter favorably' and emphasizes that the Palestinian Authority should be granted UN membership, stating that 'the State of Palestine is qualified for membership in the United Nations.'
Prior to the UNGA session, the US Mission to the UN expressed its intention to veto the membership application if sent to the Security Council, citing that the Palestinian Authority does not meet the criteria for UN membership. The US mission also highlighted that the resolution does not address previous concerns raised about Palestinian membership.
In April, the Palestinian Authority renewed its membership request, which was later vetoed by the US in the Security Council vote. The US veto was supported by Israel, labeling the Palestinian bid as a 'shameful proposal,' while the Palestinian Authority presidency criticized the veto as 'unfair, immoral, and unjustified.'
In September 2011, the Palestinian Authority's bid for UN recognition as an independent member state was unsuccessful. A year later, the UN upgraded the Palestinian Authority's status from 'non-member observer entity' to 'non-member observer state,' similar to the Vatican.
