Saudi Arabia voices regret over UN failure to accept Palestine's full membership

By Anadolu staff

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AA) - Saudi Arabia expressed regret Friday on the failure of the UN Security Council to pass a draft resolution accepting Palestine's full United Nations membership.

"Obstructing Palestine's full UN membership contributes to perpetuating the intransigence of the Israeli occupation, encourages it to continue its violations of international law without deterrence and won't achieve the desired peace," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The ministry renewed its call for the international community to fulfill its responsibility to halt Israel's attacks on civilians in Gaza, support Palestinians' right to self-determination, and establish a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The US vetoed a UN Security Council resolution on Thursday demanding Palestine's full membership in the United Nations.

The membership was blocked with a vote of 12 in favor and two abstentions, including the UK and Switzerland.

Palestine was accepted as an observer state of the UN General Assembly in 2012, allowing its envoy to participate in debates and UN organizations, but without a vote.

States are admitted to membership in the UN by a decision of the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council, according to the UN Charter.

A council resolution needs at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the permanent members — the US, Britain, France, Russia, or China — to pass.

Palestine's application for full UN membership comes amid a deadly Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip since an Oct. 7 cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas, which has killed nearly 34,000 Palestinians.