US vetoes UN Security Council's attempt to establish Palestinian state without any negotiations with Israel

The United States blocked a UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution that would have recognized the Palestinian Authority as a permanent member state of the United Nations.

Using its veto power, the U.S. opposed the draft resolution recommending the UN General Assembly recognize “the State of Palestine be admitted to membership in the United Nations.”

Twelve members of the UNSC had voted in favor of the resolution, while two countries – the United Kingdom and Switzerland – abstained. However, the American veto was enough to block the Palestinian Authority’s renewed bid to be recognized as a state by the world body.

“This vote does not reflect opposition to Palestinian statehood, but instead is an acknowledgment that it will only come from direct negotiations between the parties,” U.S. Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood told the UNSC.

Wood noted that there was no unanimity among council members as to whether the Palestinians met the criteria for membership. He added that the U.S. has long called on the Palestinian Authority (PA) to make the necessary reforms to help establish the attributes of readiness for statehood.

“Note that Hamas, a terrorist organization, is currently exerting power and influence in Gaza – an integral part of the State envisioned in this resolution,” said Wood.

PA President Mahmoud Abbas blasted the U.S. veto, calling it “unfair, immoral, and unjustified.”

Among the countries that voted for the motion submitted by Algeria were Russia, China, France, Japan, South Korea, Ecuador, Malta, Slovenia, Sierra Leone, Mozambique and Guyana.

Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz commended the U.S. for casting a veto on what he called a “shameful proposal.”

The proposal to recognize a Palestinian state, more than 6 months after the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust and after the sexual crimes and other atrocities committed by Hamas terrorists was a reward for terrorism.

I commend the United States for vetoing this…

— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) April 18, 2024

“The proposal to recognize a Palestinian state, more than 6 months after the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust and after the sexual crimes and other atrocities committed by Hamas terrorists was a reward for terrorism,” Katz wrote on 𝕏.

Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan delivered a scathing address during the discussion and, upon his departure, remarked: “Speaking to UNSC is like speaking to a brick wall.”

Today, I called on the Security Council to oppose the unilateral recognition of a Palestinian terrorist state and made clear: the Palestinian Authority is a terror supporting entity that does not deserve any status in the UN‼️

The only thing a forced and unilateral recognition… pic.twitter.com/qgdVnxY4tb

— Ambassador Gilad Erdan גלעד ארדן (@giladerdan1) April 18, 2024

“The Palestinian Authority not only have not condemned the October 7th massacre, they are also paying monthly salaries to all the terrorists that took part in it, rewarding the rapists. This is a genocide-loving entity that doesn’t deserve any status here…If this resolution passes, God forbid, this Council should no longer be known as the Security Council, but as the Terror Council,” Erdan said.

The ambassador continued: “The only thing that a forced, unilateral recognition of a Palestinian State will do is to make any future negotiations almost impossible. As long as the Palestinians feel that they can exploit this politicized body to their benefit, why would they bother at the negotiating table or support any compromise? The Palestinians rejected any peace plan and continue to support terrorism and boycott any negotiations. And now they know that their refusal is paying off!”

“Today, I won't try to fix what is already broken. Speaking to this council is like speaking to a brick wall. I pray that the day will come and you will understand the magnitude of the mistake that you are making here. I pray that you will understand before it's too late," Erdan concluded.

He also slammed the UNSC for permitting Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian to take part in the discussion, referring to him as the “Terror Minister.” 

“Minister Abdollahian’s presence here today is making this institution a joke!” he said. “Sadly, it is clear to every dictator and terror state that the UN has lost every ounce of justice, and it is now a blob of politicized plasticine that can be molded however the tyrants choose. The day will come when this organization will be shuttered.”

Important update: I have now left the Security Council after it voted in favor of recognizing a Palestinian state. The United States vetoed the Council’s destructive move. 𝗜 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 @USUN 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗕𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻 @POTUS 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝗳… pic.twitter.com/B3FhkhTJAm

— Ambassador Gilad Erdan גלעד ארדן (@giladerdan1) April 18, 2024