After India reiterated its support for Palestine’s bid for full membership in the United Nations, Palestine publicly supported New Delhi’s long-standing ambition for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
Speaking to ANI on Wednesday, Palestinian Ambassador to India Abdullah Abu Shawish said India “deserves to be a permanent member of the Security Council” and said any reform of the UN body must include major global powers like India.
Read also: India commits to providing more aid to Palestine and supports the application for membership in the United Nations
“India deserves to be a permanent member”
When asked whether Palestine supports India’s candidacy as the country seeks a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the period 2028-2029 and the role it sees New Delhi playing in the council, Abu Shawish said: “India deserves to be a permanent member of the Security Council. Not just for three years.”
He added, “Our position is clear in this regard. I am sure that the vast majority of the country supports the renewal or rehabilitation of the Security Council. Part of the rehabilitation or review of the Charter of the Security Council and the rules that guide it is for some major countries to be permanent members. I am sure that India fully deserves to be a permanent member of the Security Council.”
The Palestinian envoy also said that the main obstacle to Palestine obtaining full membership in the United Nations is the United States, claiming that Washington has repeatedly obstructed the process in the UN Security Council despite widespread international support.
Explaining the process of obtaining full membership in the United Nations, Abu Shawsh explained that it consists of three stages, of which Palestine has completed the first stage and does not expect any difficulty in the third stage.
“To obtain full recognition as a member state of the United Nations, you have to go through three steps. The first step is to submit the application to the Secretary-General himself, and we have already passed this step,” he said.
According to him, the second stage requires the UN Security Council to recommend Palestine’s admission to the UN General Assembly, which will then make the final decision.
Abu Shawish said: “The other step is to pass through the Security Council, and the Security Council must submit a recommendation to the General Assembly, and in the General Assembly we will be accepted. Therefore, the first and third steps we have no problem with at all.”
Read also: Arming the UN: India must acknowledge this pattern
But he claimed that the process was repeatedly halted in the Security Council because of the United States.
He added: “The second step, unfortunately, and because of our experience, was hindered by the United States of America itself, and the main obstacle to this step is the United States of America, which fully supports the Israeli occupation.”
On Monday, India reiterated its long-standing support for Palestine’s bid for full UN membership, while reiterating its commitment to a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Speaking at the UN, India’s Permanent Representative P Harish reiterated New Delhi’s continued support for Palestine’s UN membership and reiterated India’s support for a two-state solution, where Israel and Palestine live side by side in peace and security within recognized borders, in accordance with international law.
(With inputs from Annie)
