ALBAWABA - Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib announced Monday that her nation will back a resolution recognizing Palestine as a full member of the UN.
On X, Lahbib shared a photo of her meeting with the Palestinian foreign minister and stated that Belgium will support Palestine's UN status, which she described as her "message to Riyad al-Maliki." She also stated that it is "a first important step on the road to peace".
Earlier in April, Palestinian envoy to the UN Riyad Mansour sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres requesting renewed consideration of its membership application.
"In reference to the application of the state of Palestine for membership in the United Nations in contained document S/2011/592 dated 23 September 2011 and upon the instructions of Palestinian membership, I have the honor to request that renewed consideration be given to this application by the Security Council during April 2024," the letter reads.
The State of Palestine was admitted as an observer state to the UN General Assembly in 2012, allowing its envoy to participate in discussions and UN bodies but not vote.
The supporters' letter to the council president named 140 countries that have recognized Palestine as a state, including members of the United Nations' 22-nation Arab Group, the 57-nation Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the 120-member Nonaligned Movement.
On September 23, 2011, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas presented the Palestinian Authority's application to become the 194th member of the United Nations to then-Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon before speaking to world leaders at the General Assembly.
That attempt failed because the Palestinians failed to secure the necessary support from nine of the Security Council's 15 members. Even if they did, Israel's strongest ally, the United States, had sworn to reject any council resolution that supported Palestinian participation.
