MANAMA, Saturday, May 11, 2024 (WAFA) – The Kingdom of Bahrain today welcomed the United Nations General Assembly’s vote in favor of Palestine’s full membership in the UN.

Bahrain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs praised the Arab Group, chaired by United Arab Emirates (UAE), for their successful efforts aimed at submitting the draft resolution and for the adoption of the draft resolution.

The assembly adopted a resolution with 143 votes in favour and nine against – including the US and Israel – while 25 countries abstained. It does not give the Palestinians full UN membership, but simply recognises them as qualified to join.

The Ministry considered the adoption of the draft resolution as indicative of international consensus on supporting the Palestinian people’s historic and legitimate rights to self-determination, freedom, justice, equality, independence and ending the occupation of their territories in line with international law.

It reiterated Bahrain’s position calling for an immediate, lasting and comprehensive ceasefire and allowing the entry of humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and appreciated the reaffirmation of the UNGA member states in the draft resolution of their support for a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East.

It also appreciated the calls of the UNGA member states in the draft resolution for “renewed and coordinated efforts by the international community aimed at achieving without delay an end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967” and enabling the Palestinian people to realize their legitimate right to establish their independent state on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on the two-state solution, UN resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.

K.F.