Palestine Gets Seat at UN General Assembly, Israel Opposes Move
The 79th session of the UN General Assembly began in New York with Palestine being given a seat in the General Assembly Hall. Although Palestine is not a full member of the 193-member UN body, its envoy, Riyad Mansour, took his place at a table marked ‘State of Palestine’ between Sri Lanka and Sudan.
Egypt’s Ambassador, Osama Mahmoud Abdelkhalek Mahmoud, called this a historic moment, and the UNGA President confirmed that all necessary arrangements had been made. However, Israel denounced the move, stating that UN membership and associated privileges are reserved for sovereign states.
In May, a resolution was adopted to reconsider Palestine’s UN membership and grant additional rights, allowing Palestine to participate in General Assembly sessions and UN meetings on an exceptional basis. The resolution received 143 votes in favor, including from India, which supports a two-state solution in the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Philemon Yang, the former Prime Minister of Cameroon, was elected President of the 79th General Assembly. He emphasized the need to resolve conflicts and prioritize human rights. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlighted the challenges ahead, including poverty, inequality, and climate change, and called for solutions to achieve Sustainable Development Goals.
The ‘Summit of the Future’ will take place on September 22-23, followed by the General Debate from September 24-30, themed ‘Leaving no one behind: Acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development, and human dignity for present and future generations.’
Doubts Revealed
Palestine -: Palestine is a region in the Middle East. It has been in conflict with Israel over land and independence for many years.
UN General Assembly -: The UN General Assembly is a big meeting where countries from all over the world come together to discuss important issues and make decisions.
Israel -: Israel is a country in the Middle East. It has had a long-standing conflict with Palestine over territory and governance.
Egypt’s Ambassador -: An ambassador is a person who represents their country in another country or at international meetings. Egypt is a country in North Africa.
Resolution -: A resolution is a formal decision made by a group, like the UN, after discussing and voting on a particular issue.
Philemon Yang -: Philemon Yang is a person who was elected to lead the 79th session of the UN General Assembly. He is from Cameroon, a country in Africa.
UN Secretary-General -: The UN Secretary-General is the head of the United Nations. Antonio Guterres is the current Secretary-General.
Summit of the Future -: The ‘Summit of the Future’ is a special meeting where leaders will discuss plans and ideas for the future. It will happen on September 22-23.
General Debate -: The General Debate is a part of the UN General Assembly where leaders from different countries give speeches about important global issues. It will take place from September 24-30.
