UNSC to vote on Palestinian membership Friday

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will vote on the membership of Palestine on Friday (April 19).

The vote has been scheduled in the 15-member council on Friday, diplomats told the Reuters news agency. It is set to happen at 3pm (19:00 GMT).

A draft resolution put forth by Algeria recommends to the 193-member UN General Assembly that “the State of Palestine be admitted to membership of the United Nations”, diplomats said.

The resolution needs at least nine votes in favour to pass the Security Council and no vetoes from the US, Britain, France, Russia or China.

Diplomats told Reuters the measure could have the support of up to 13 council members, but the US is expected to block the effort because it would effectively recognise a Palestinian state.

The US, Israel’s top ally, has long maintained that establishing an independent Palestinian state should happen through direct negotiations between the Palestinians and Israel and not at the UN.

Palestinians are currently a non-member observer state at the UN.