The UN Security Council on September 28 took its first step on the Palestinian application to join the United Nations by handing it to a committee that will review and assess it in the coming weeks. The standing committee on the admission of new members to the world body comprises all 15 council members. Normally, the review period for a membership application is a maximum of 35 days, but Western diplomats say this limit can be waived and the process could theoretically drag on. Western diplomats on the council say the Palestinian UN bid is doomed to failure due to US opposition.
But the chief Palestinian delegate to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, welcomed the council’s move as the first step toward eventual UN recognition of Palestinian statehood. He reiterated that the Palestinians hoped the process would not take too long. The Palestinians have secured eight Security Council yes votes for their UN membership bid, just one short of the nine they need. The countries willing to vote for Palestine’s UN membership are Lebanon, Russia, China, India, South Africa, Brazil, Nigeria and Gabon.