US envoy believes full UN membership will not assist Palestinians in achieving statehood

US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield expressed skepticism about a UN resolution recommending the Palestinian Authority become a full UN member as a step towards a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Speaking at a news conference in Seoul, Thomas-Greenfield stated that the US does not believe that a resolution in the Security Council would necessarily lead to progress towards a two-state solution. She emphasized that President Joe Biden has affirmed US support for a two-state solution and is actively working towards achieving it.

The Palestinian Authority is expected to push for a Security Council vote on the draft resolution recommending full UN membership, with Security Council member Algeria circulating a draft text for consideration.

However, a UN Security Council committee reviewing the application was unable to reach a unanimous recommendation on whether the Palestinian Authority met the criteria for full membership. Approval for full UN membership requires the support of the Security Council, where the US holds veto power, and then a two-thirds majority in the General Assembly.

Despite the ongoing efforts, little progress has been made towards Palestinian statehood since the Oslo Accords in the 1990s. Challenges such as expanding Israeli settlements and differing opinions on statehood criteria continue to hinder the peace process.

The Palestinian Authority, led by President Mahmoud Abbas, governs the West Bank while Hamas controls the Gaza Strip. The complex political landscape adds further complexity to the quest for a lasting resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.