FACT CHECK: Post Claims UN Has Given Palestine Full Membership

Elias Atienza | Senior Reporter

A post shared on Facebook claims that the United Nations (UN) General Assembly voted to give Palestine full membership.

Verdict: Misleading

While the UN General Assembly did vote to grant new “rights and privileges” to the Palestinian government, they did not receive full membership as claimed.

Fact Check:

Social media users are claiming that the UN General Assembly accepted full membership of Palestine. One user wrote, “The United Nations General Assembly accepted full membership of Palestine.”

This claim is misleading. It is true that the General Assembly voted to provide “new rights and privileges” to the Palestinians, according to The Associated Press (AP). However, the vote did not grant the state full membership, the outlet reported. (RELATED: Video Claims To Show US Destroyer Hit By Houthi Missile)

The UN released a press release about the vote, noting the “rights and privileges” given to the Palestinian state, “including the right to be seated among Member States in alphabetical order; make statements on behalf of a group…” and to “fully and effectively participate in UN and international conferences and meetings convened under the auspices of the General Assembly or, as appropriate, under the auspices of other organs of the United Nations.”

Palestine “does not have the right to vote in the General Assembly or to put forward its candidature to United Nations organs,” the release notes.

The resolution urged “the Security Council to favourably consider its full membership,” meaning that Palestine does not have full membership. The United States said it would veto Palestinian membership and statehood until a two-state solution is found with Israel, according to the AP.

Misbar also fact-checked this claim.

Elias Atienza

Senior Reporter
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