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Context:

• S. vetoes resolution backing full U.N. membership for Palestine.

Details:

• Request by Palestine: Amid the Gaza war, Palestine submitted a request to reconsider its 2011 application for UN membership to the Secretary-General on April 2.
• Previous Attempts: In 2011, the Security Council couldn't agree on recommending Palestine's membership to the General Assembly, which needs to hold a vote involving its 193 member states.
• Draft Resolution: The draft resolution was moved to UNGA, simply recommending Palestine's admission to the UN as a member state.
• Voting Requirements: For a draft resolution to pass, the Security Council needs at least nine members in favor and no veto from its permanent members (China, France, Russia, UK, US).
• The Voting: The vote in the 15-member Security Council was 12 in favor, the United States opposed, and two abstentions.
• Palestine's Status: Palestine has been a Permanent Observer at the UN since 2012, and prior to that, it was an observer in the UN General Assembly.

Why the US does not support Palestine's inclusion in the UN as a full member state:

• Strategic Alliance with Israel: The US has a longstanding and close strategic alliance with Israel. Supporting Palestine's inclusion in the UN as a full member state could be seen as undermining this alliance and Israel's interests.
• Security Concerns: The US may have security concerns regarding Palestine's inclusion in the UN, especially if it believes that Palestine has not taken sufficient steps to address security threats or has not shown a commitment to peace and stability in the region.
• Bilateral Negotiations: The US has historically advocated for a negotiated settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through direct bilateral negotiations between the parties involved. Supporting Palestine's unilateral inclusion in the UN could be viewed as bypassing this process and undermining the US-led peace efforts.
• Domestic Politics: Support for Israel is a significant aspect of US domestic politics, with strong bipartisan backing for Israel in Congress. The US administration's handling of the conflict can impact domestic political dynamics, particularly in terms of public opinion and electoral considerations.

Refer to the article for a detailed understanding of the Israel-Palestine conflict: https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/indias-stand-on-the-israel-palestine-issue#:~:text=Palestine%20needs%20to%20stay%20within,all%20its%20forms%20and%20manifestations.

Source:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/us-vetoes-resolution-backing-full-un-membership-for-palestine/article68081442.ece

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