US vetoes UNSC resolution on Palestinian statehood after 12 countries vote in favor

Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief

Robert Wood, deputy US ambassador to the United Nations, speaks during a Security Council meeting on a resolution that would have recognized the Palestinians as a full UN member state, at United Nations headquarters, April 18, 2024, (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Robert Wood, deputy US ambassador to the United Nations, speaks during a Security Council meeting on a resolution that would have recognized the Palestinians as a full UN member state, at United Nations headquarters, April 18, 2024, (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

The US follows through on its pledge to veto a Security Council resolution to grant the Palestinians full-member status at the UN.

Twelve countries voted in favor, passing the threshold of nine required to force a US veto. The countries that supported the measure were Slovenia, Sierra Leone, Russia, South Korea, Mozambique, Malta, Japan, Guyana, France, Ecuador, China and Algeria.

The UK and Switzerland abstained on the resolution.

The Biden administration has long opposed Palestinian efforts to unilaterally secure statehood status at the UN, arguing that the goal should be achieved via direct negotiations with Israel.

More recently, US officials have said such efforts harm the administration’s active pursuit to achieve a two state solution through a broader regional initiative that would start with a hostage deal, following by a permanent end to the war, Arab involvement in the rebuilding of Gaza with assistance from a reformed PA, a Saudi normalization with Israel and a bolstered Mideast front against Iran.

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