The flag of the State of Palestine, the observer State, was raised at the United Nations Office at Geneva.
At a public meeting today, the Council decided to submit the "Application of the State of Palestine for admission to membership in the United Nations" to the Committee on the Admission of New Members for consideration. In the afternoon, the Committee held its first closed-door meeting on the matter.
Palestine is currently an observer State of the United Nations. In September 2011, President Mahmoud Abbas of the State of Palestine submitted an application to then-Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for the country to become a full member of the United Nations. At that time, the Palestinians suspended the application due to the tough stance of the United States on the issue.
In early April this year, Mansour, Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations, sent a letter to Secretary-General António Guterres requesting that the Security Council reconsider the request.
On Monday morning, the Council held internal consultations and a public meeting on the subject. At a public meeting, Vanessa Frazier, Permanent Representative of Malta to the United Nations, who holds the presidency of the Security Council for April, announced that it was proposed that the application for Palestinian membership be submitted to the Committee on the Admission of New Members for consideration. The proposal was not opposed by the 15 members of the Council.
On Monday afternoon, the Committee on the Admission of New Members, composed of representatives of the 15 members of the Security Council, considered Palestine's application for membership for the first time in 13 years. It is reported that the committee will continue to meet on this topic on Thursday.
How do I become a member of the United Nations?
The Charter of the United Nations states: "Members of the United Nations may be admitted to the United Nations by any peace-loving nation which accepts the obligations set forth in the Charter of the United Nations and who, in the opinion of the Organization, are capable of fulfilling those obligations." "A country applying for membership in the United Nations must be recommended by the Security Council and then decided by the General Assembly in order to be admitted to the United Nations.
The application process is broadly as follows:
The applicant State submits an application to the Secretary-General, together with a letter formally declaring its acceptance of the obligations contained in the Charter of the United Nations.
2. The Council considers the application. At least 9 of the 15 members of the Security Council must vote in favour and none of the 5 permanent members (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States) vote against it in order to adopt any proposal to admit new members.
3. If the Security Council recommends the admission of the country, the recommendation will be forwarded to the General Assembly for consideration. However, a two-thirds majority of Member States must vote in favour of the General Assembly before a new Member State can be admitted. If the Council does not recommend an applicant for membership or defers consideration of its application, the General Assembly may, after full consideration of the Council's special report, send the application, together with the full record of the Assembly's discussions, back to the Council for further consideration, recommendation or report.
4. Membership takes effect on the date of adoption of the General Assembly resolution on the admission of new Members.
