UPDATE (4/19/2024): The United States has vetoed a widely backed U.N. resolution that would have paved the way for full United Nations membership for Palestine, a goal the Palestinians have long sought and Israel has worked to prevent. More details...
China, and Indonesia with it, have agreed to support full membership into the United Nations for the Palestinian people. The announcement was made Thursday in Jakarta, according to KOMPAS, the state newspaper for Indonesia.
Foreign ministers for Indonesia and China spoke at a press conference announcing their position on Thursday.
"Together with China, Indonesia voices support for a two-state solution, namely an independent and separate Palestine from Israel. Therefore, Beijing and Jakarta declare support for Palestine to be accepted as a member of the United Nations," KOMPAS reported.
The Biden administration has repeatedly pressured Israel, through its war with Hamas, for a two-state solution, but the U.S. is not expected to support Palestinian membership in the U.N., Family Research Council news reporter Victoria Marshall said on Washington Watch Wednesday.
"Currently Palestine is an observer, non-member state. What we expect to happen is the U.S. will veto it, and Palestine will not become a member of the U.N.," she told show host Tony Perkins.
Security Council members China, France, Russian Federation, United Kingdom and the U.S. – five of the 15 on the council – have veto power.
"Indonesia and China believe de-escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict – and the ability of all parties to exercise restraint – are urgently needed to restore global security and stability," KOMPAS reported.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi took a shot at the U.S. in his comments in Jakarta.
"The U.N. is not a platform for the hegemony of big countries. Everyone must humbly implement resolutions. It is better for U.S. officials to relearn international law," Wang said.
Knesset member: Gaza has been used for terror, not prosperity
Israel opposes volunteering land to create a Palestinian state. Gaza is already a failed symbol of such policy, officials say – and they argue it would also send a wrong message to Hamas.
"It's basically telling the terrorists of Hamas, 'You want to achieve your goals? Keep doing what you're doing. Keep using terror. That will be the right path to go.' That's a horrible, horrible message in the Middle East," Knesset member Ohad Tal said on Washington Watch this week.
"In 2005, we gave Gaza Strip all to the Palestinians. All went to terror – not to build resorts, not to build, [not] to invest in education. Only in terror," Tal said.
Marshall said the U.S. opposes full membership for Palestine because that would in essence grant it state status through the opinions of other nations.
"The U.S. does not want this to happen because effectively the resolution would be a recognition of Palestine as a state, and the U.S. foreign policy recognition of that is both Israel and Palestine should have direct negotiations with a two-state solution to be accomplished – not [through] the U.N.," she explained.
This is the second Palestinian attempt to become the 194th member of the United Nations. The first occurred in September 2011.
