RAMALLAH, October 31, 2011 (WAFA) – Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Palestinian Authority (PA) and Fatah, welcomed Monday the decision to grant Palestine full membership in UNESCO, on the other hand, USA and Israel were totally against it.
PLO executive committee considered this overwhelming vote of the international community as historical and reflects their will to do justice for the Palestinian people to enable them to obtain their natural right, which is the recognition of people and their independent state.
It also considered that this critical decision will pave the way for the recognition of Palestine as a full member in the United Nations (UN) itself, and not only in one of its most important organizations.
Fatah Commissioner of International Relations and Member of Fatah Central Committee, Nabil Shaath considered gaining full membership in UNESCO a proof of the international community’s recognition of Palestinian people’s right to an independent state.
He called on Security Council member states to support Palestine’s application to gain full membership in the UN, adding that the veto should not be used except in cases that threat international peace and security.
Secretary-General of the Palestinian Legislative Council and member of the Fatah Revolutionary Council, Ibrahim Khreisheh stressed on the importance of the success achieved by the Palestinian diplomatic move to grant Palestine a full membership in UNESCO.
He added that this decision is considered as a start for more success to come, of which the most important is gaining full membership in the UN.
PA Ambassador to Austria and international organizations in Vienna, Zuhair al-Wazir said that the success that the Palestinians achieved by gaining full membership in UNESCO “motivates us to make similar requests to all international organizations in which Palestine is an observer.
He added that it’s time to recognize an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 border and with East Jerusalem as its capital.
On the other hand, White House Spokesman Jay Karni said that the white house considered this vote as a premature decision, resulting negatively on re-launching the peace process.
The Israeli ministry of foreign affairs said, in a statement, that Palestine joining UNESCO as a full member is a unilateral decision which “negatively affects the peace processes.”
The General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has adopted on Monday the draft resolution of its executive board to grant Palestine full membership in the organization.
A total of 173 UNESCO member states attended the voting session; the resolution received 107 votes in favor, 14 against, and 52 members states abstained.
M.G. /F.R.
