Fri, Apr 19th 2024
Switzerland aligns with the UK, abstaining from a crucial UN vote on Palestine’s full membership, citing timing and peace process concerns.
Like the UK, Switzerland has abstained from voting on a resolution for full membership of a Palestinian state at the United Nations. The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) announced on Friday that “at the present time” the admission of Palestine would “not be conducive” to détente and peace efforts in the Middle East.
The USA – a permanent member of the Security Council – vetoed the resolution during the vote. It was therefore off the table, although twelve member states voted in favor. According to the news agency DPA, at least nine of the 15 Security Council members would have had to vote in favor for the resolution to be successful. If successful, the motion would have had to be referred to the UN General Assembly for a vote, where a two-thirds majority would have been required.
According to DPA, the US government is of the opinion that an agreement with Israel on a two-state solution is a prerequisite for Palestine’s recognition as a full member of the UN. At a meeting of the Security Council on Thursday morning (local time), Palestinian UN Ambassador Mansour strongly advocated the adoption of the resolution, while his Israeli counterpart Gilad Erdan strongly warned against it.
In November 2011, the application for full UN membership failed once before at the Security Council. A year later, the United Nations granted the Palestinians observer status in the face of opposition from the USA. Of the 193 UN member states, 139 have so far recognized Palestine as an independent state. Switzerland is not one of them.
©Keystone/SDA
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