Baghdad, The UN Security Council unanimously approved, yesterday, Monday, referring the reconsideration of Palestine’s application for full membership in the United Nations to the Council’s Membership Committee.

The Palestinian Wafa News Agency reported that Ambassador Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, thanked the Ambassador of Malta, President of the Security Council this month, for this ‘historic step.’

It is noteworthy that the referral decision came after the Secretary-General of the United Nations referred the Palestinian request that was submitted in September 2011 and was submitted again last week to the Security Council.

New members of the United Nations are accepted by the General Assembly based on the recommendation of the UN Security Council, where the Council holds an official meeting and refers the request to its permanent committee concerned with accepting new members, as admission to membership in the United Nations requires the approval of at
least 9 of the 15 members of the Council. The veto power applies in this context.’

It is noteworthy that the State of Palestine currently enjoys observer state status in the United Nations, as the observer member does not have the right to vote on resolutions adopted by the General Assembly or to compete for non-permanent membership in the Security Council.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency