Poland supports the UN General Assembly resolution expanding Palestine's rights in the United Nations
10.05.2024
On 10 May, the UN General Assembly in New York adopted a resolution expanding Palestine's rights in the UN. Poland, along with 142 UN member states, including the majority of the EU, voted in favour of the resolution. Nine countries voted against and 25 abstained.
The UN General Assembly resolution does not grant UN membership to the State of Palestine but significantly expands its rights and privileges within the Organization. Palestine was granted rights similar to those applicable to UN member states, including the right to participate in debates on Palestinian and Middle East issues as well as on other items of the agenda, to make statements on behalf of groups of states, and to submit proposals and amendments. However, Palestine will not have the right to vote in the UN General Assembly or to put forward its candidature to United Nations organs.
The resolution also expresses support for Palestine's aspirations for UN membership, determining that it meets the criteria set out in the Charter of the United Nations.
The UN General Assembly also called on the Security Council to reconsider Palestine's accession to the United Nations. Palestine's full UN membership requires the approval by the Security Council which, on 18 April 2024, rejected the resolution recommending the UN General Assembly to grant full membership of the Organization to the State of Palestine.
For Poland, voting in favour of the resolution is consistent with our stance to date which results, among other things, from the fact that we recognized the Palestinian Declaration of Independence in 1988.
Poland understands and has for decades supported the Palestinian people as it strives for self-determination and statehood. It is on all fora that we work towards peace and stability in the Middle East. In the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, we consistently advocate the two-state solution based on international law as the only one capable of putting an end to the fear and suffering experienced by both communities. We consider the General Assembly resolution to be a legitimate and important step in this direction.