Today the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on strengthening Palestine’s observer status to the United Nations. The resolution also recommended Palestine’s full UN membership. However, this vote was not about making Palestine a full UN member. The admission of new members requires a recommendation of the Security Council, which has not been issued.
Finland abstained in the vote in line with the decision of the President of the Republic and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy. A number of other EU Member States, including Sweden, also abstained.
Finland strives to advance the two-state solution and an independent, internationally recognized Palestinian state as a full member of the United Nations. When realized, it is of utmost importance that the membership does not remain merely symbolic, but comes as a step of a broad-based, jointly agreed upon plan that produces concrete improvements to the situation of the Palestinians and the security of the whole region. Regrettably, we are not there yet.
Now, the most urgent issues are deliveries of humanitarian aid, release of the hostages and a ceasefire. A large scale ground operation in Rafah would have disastrous consequences. It must not happen. Israel has the obligation to protect civilians.

[2024-05-10 18:08 UTC]