India’s Support for Palestine’s UN Membership: Upholding Ethical Multilateralism and the Two-State Solution

In a significant diplomatic move, India voted in favor of a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution that backed Palestine’s bid for full UN membership. The resolution, which passed with a resounding majority of 143 votes, determines that the State of Palestine is qualified for membership under Article 4 of the UN Charter and recommends that the Security Council reconsider the matter favorably. While the UNGA cannot grant full membership—a power that rests with the Security Council where the U.S. recently vetoed a similar proposal—the resolution grants Palestine significant new procedural rights. These include the right to be seated among member states in alphabetical order, the right to make statements on behalf of groups, and the right to submit proposals and amendments. However, it does not grant Palestine the right to vote in the General Assembly or to put forward candidates for UN organs.