Palestinian Flag. Photograph by Jean-François Gornet
Foreign Secretary William Hague has suggested the UK would likely abstain in a key UN vote on upgraded diplomatic status for Palestinians, saying the UK would not oppose Palestine becoming a “non-member observer state”.
Hague has said that the UK would remain open to the possibility of voting in support of the Palestinian status change until the time of the vote tomorrow, but any such support would would come with two conditions: “Indespensible” assurances from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that the Palestinians were committed to return to negotiations with Israel without any conditions; and agreement from the Palestinians that they would not seek membership of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Palestinian diplomats said they had rejected the “unrealistic” demands.
The vote on upgrading the Palestinians from their current “permanent observer” status is seen as a symbolic milestone in the goal of Palestinian statehood. Non-member observer statehood would also have practical implications as Palestinians could then participate in debates at the UN, and their chances of joining UN agencies would be notably improved, although still not guaranteed.
[note background=”#FFFFCC”]Which Countries Will Likely Support Upgrading the Status of Palestine at the UN?
- Support: France, Spain, Norway, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Turkey, China, Russia, India, Brazil, South Africa, Nigeria
- Abstain: UK, Australia, Belgium, Colombia
- Reject: Israel, US, Germany, Netherlands
