The General Assembly of the United Nations, supported today Friday, by an overwhelming majority, the request of the Palestinians for their inclusion, as a full member, in the Organization, a resolution that is, however, of a symbolic nature since the US is expected to veto it when it is discussed in the Security Council.

The resolution recognizing that the Palestinians meet the criteria for membership and should “join the Organization”, giving them some additional rights as “observers”, received 143 votes in favor, 9 against and 25 abstentions. Among the nine that voted against it were the US and Israel.

The General Assembly thus returns the request to the Security Council and recommends that he “reconsider the matter favourably”.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry reacted immediately, characterizing “gift to Hamas” the decision of the General Assembly.

“The absurd decision received today at the General Assembly highlights the structural bias of the United Nations and the reasons why, under the leadership of Secretary-General (António) Guterres, it has turned into an irrelevant institution,” said Foreign Minister Israel Katz.

For his part, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the General Assembly’s support for the Palestinians’ request to join the UN as a full member strengthens their efforts for a new Security Council vote on the matter. “Palestine will continue its efforts to become a full member of the UN,” he said in his statement.

The Palestinian request comes as the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip enters its seventh month and Israel expands settlements in the occupied West Bank, which the UN considers illegal.

“We want peace, we want freedom,” Palestinian UN Ambassador Riyad Mansour said before the vote. “A positive vote is a vote for Palestinian existence, not against any state (…) It is an investment in peace. Voting yes is the right thing to do,” he said, his remarks being applauded by those present.

Based on the founding charter of the UN, members can become “peace-loving” countries that accept the obligations deriving from this text and are able and willing to fulfill them.

“Since many of you ‘hate the Jews’ you don’t really care that the Palestinians are not ‘peace-loving,'” commented Israeli Ambassador Gilad Erdan, who spoke after Mansour. He even accused the General Assembly of “ripping up” the UN Charter and used a small shredder to tear up a copy while on the floor. “Shame on you,” he added.

The ambassador had said on Monday that, if the proposal passes, he expects the US to cut off funding to the UN and its institutions, under US law.

A request for a country to become a full member must first be approved by the 15-member Security Council and then by the General Assembly. If the proposal comes back to the Council again, it is likely to meet the same fate: the US veto.

“The Council must respond to the will of the international community,” United Arab Emirates Ambassador Mohammed Abusahaab said before the vote.

Today’s resolution gives certain privileges to the Palestinians, effective from September 2024, such as a seat among UN members in the General Assembly chamber. But they will not have the right to vote.